A Few Favorites: Destination Hotels!

Lake Como, Italy. Natural beauty, hard to enhance unless you can plop at the brilliant sapphire shore to gaze all day from Passalacqua. A stunning 18th century restored villa, owned and refurbished by the owners of nearby Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Best suites are authentically Italian, enormous and have grand lake views, at this intimate 24 room property. Terraced gardens, created for the Italian art of dolce far niente. Every season is memorable. Mosey through the secret tunnel to the lake to board your classic luxury wooden boat.

Amanzoe, Greece an ultra-luxury hilltop resort located near Porto Heli on the east coast of the Peloponnese in Greece.  Soar by helicopter or take the scenic route by car. No matter how you arrive, you’ll never want to depart! Blending classic Greek architecture with modern design, it features private pavilions and villas with individual swimming pools, a comprehensive wellness spa, and an exclusive beach club. Ancient olive trees line the hillsides, white arcades line personal pools, with 10 exceptional Villas and a private beach club. Scattered with UNESCO-protected ruins, the beach-fringed Peloponnese has been at the heart of Greek culture for millennia. A modern-day Acropolis from which 360-degree views encompass olive groves and the Aegean Sea. Pavilions and villas all offer private pools with stunning views and fragrant gardens, while a flagship Aman Spa pampers guests.

Airelles Chateau de Versailles, Versailles France. The days of paying insane fees for private tours has been eliminated by settling in at the grand Chateau! Private access before and after hours is guaranteed for all guests. A dream for Francophiles and foodies – reserve early, the dreamy 13 rooms are in demand!  Immerse yourself in the heart of French history at Le Grand Contrôle. Experience the royal splendor of the 18th century in this exceptional setting. Summer is lived outdoors. La Table des Jardiniers sets its tables on the terrace, facing the Orangerie, for unhurried lunches.  In the evening, the Bar de la Chapelle extends the day until twilight. Versailles, in summer, no longer needs embellishment; you simply settle in and let the moment linger.

Heckfield Place, Hamshire England. My recent visit, all too short, was a reminder of how much I love this Manor House! An inspired 19th Century estate, Heckfield Place is on the top of my list in countryside lodgings. Albeit close to London, but far enough removed, residing amidst 400 glorious acres of secluded Hampshire grounds. Formal garden terraces and provocatively described ‘pleasure grounds’ truly feel like a private park. The Manor house is brimming with the private art collection of owner Gerald Chan – stop and linger, impressive art in every room and hallway. In addition to the gorgeous rooms, Heckfield Place serves destination-worthy bio-dynamic cuisine made with ingredients grown on its Home Farm. When the sun sets, follow me to the Moon Bar. Nestled in the center of the mansion, inspired by the lunar phases, Moon Bar Cocktails are unique to Heckfield in concept, presentation and most importantly in flavor. Love the cocktail salon, with its glittering diamond ball. Finish up an afternoon walk at the Bothy Spa in the endless pool overlooking a meadow, a quiet haven!

Provence, France Art wonderland at Villa La Coste. An ultra-luxury, art-focused 5-star hotel and suite retreat set within a 200-hectare biodynamic vineyard at Château La Coste in Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, France, roughly a 15-minute drive north of Aix-en-Provence Twenty-eight Villa Suites: Private, modernist-inspired, and light-filled suites featuring large terraces, original art pieces, and expansive valley or vineyard views. Private Plunge Pools: Select high-level suites include private slate plunge pools or gardens. Renowned for its open-Air Museum: Set across 600 acres featuring site-specific installations, pavilions, and architecture by masters like Tadao Ando, Frank Gehry, Louise Bourgeois, Oscar Niemeyer, and Richard Serra.

Dar Ahlam “House of Dreams’ near Skoura, Morocco. A hotel of fables and fanciful experiences. There’s little about this 19th-century Kasbah that won’t leave you wanting to return. Relish a land of adventure near Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Moroccan desert. One of the most luxurious properties in Morocco, on the fringes of the Moroccan desert, shaded by ancient palms. Dar Ahlam features 14 luxury rooms and suites divided between a restored 20th-century kasbah and private garden retreats. We prefer the luxurious discreet garden suites offering ground-level indoor-outdoor living, open fireplaces, spacious en-suite layouts, and private terraces surrounded by nine acres of palm and fruit trees.

Sitting on the edge of the Great Sand Sea, Andere Amellal in the Siwa oasis, Egypt eco lodge offers remote lodging in rooms built of mud and rock salt, with no power, evenings are lit by fragrant beeswax candles and the endless starry desert sky.  A sense of place unlike any other, surf the dunes or effortless float in the spring fed pool amid the rows of olive trees. History surrounds you; this remote oasis attracted such explorers as Alexander the Great and his army.

Photo by Alberto Silliotti

Four Seasons Tamarindo, on the secret coast. The Four Seasons brand is an authority on sniffing out secluded locations and creating a beach paradise, before anyone else discovers a serene warm body of water and a private stretch of sandy beach. Escape to a tucked away nature reserve in Mexico’s Tamarindo, the pristine coastline where verdant jungle meets the Pacific Ocean. This rugged and pristine biosphere-protected swath of coastline in western Mexico, all 157 rooms and 63 suites are an expression of the region, with soaring private infinity pools hanging from your cliffside terrace – endless views of the sea. Recognized as the top resort in Mexico.

Ol Jogi, Kenya. One of our favorite Safari destinations: A private home offers one of the most exclusive accommodation experiences on the African continent. With eleven bedrooms housed within eight cottages, the lodge is devoted to private parties. You also have the entire 58,000-acre Conservancy just for you. Ol Jogi’s home was built and crafted over many decades. It is a design masterpiece with a very unique style. A collection of museum quality artworks, china and silverware create an ambiance atypical of the more common lodge offerings. While the home is luxurious, it is also quite comfortable and relaxing. When you stay, you feel like it’s your own home, and the experience will be very different than what you would find in a commercial lodge. The most valuable treasure of Ol Jogi is the amount of wildlife that resides here. Right in front of the house is a watering hole with a constant flow of wildlife. You could probably never leave the home during your stay and you would still see all the wildlife Ol Jogi has to offer.

One of the most exciting features is an underground tunnel that takes you from inside the house directly to a hide at our watering hole. Imagine being a few feet away from a herd of buffalo, or an endangered black rhino, and being close enough to see the marks on its skin and hear its breath, all while being in complete safety and enjoying your favorite cocktail. And the pool… lush vegetation and flowing water streams surround the pool area, the entire experience, including the game drives, the staff and the food is Over The Top!

Fiji Laucala Island – we love and clients agree with so much to do and a fantasy island environment. Formerly owned by Malcolm Forbes, a nut on seclusion, now being refurbished by founder of Red Bull, closed until 2027. A myriad of activities include diving, a noted 18-hole golf course, hiking, horseback riding on land and in the sea, water sports galore, with a ring of spectacular reefs lining the island, snorkel or diving fans love this property!

The Brando, French Polynesia. Our recent honeymooners soaked in the privacy and luxury of The Brando Island. Just 33 miles from Tahiti, a private plane zips you across the sapphire clear seas. An elegant eco resort, sumptuous villas and a floating tree house couples massage suite high on the palm trees! The Ultimate in Every Way!

It’s a start! Highly Recommend!

More on Plopping…After A is B. Barefoot Luxury.

Besides the day-to-day stress, the unpredictable profound pandemic has created its own subset of stress. Is it safe to go, is it better to stay home still? Tahiti has very strict protocols in place.

A short list of Perfect Places to Plop. Some places you can feel, they cast their spell on you immediately, The Brando is certain to cast its spell the moment you arrive. Tetiaroa is treasured among Tahitians who know it as a sacred place. So sacred, that at one time the coconut-dotted white sand beaches and crystalline lagoon of this uninhabited atoll was an exclusive getaway for Tahitian royalty.

Tetiaroa

Tahiti – The Brando. When filming Mutiny on the Bounty here in 1962, Marlon Brando called the island of Tetiaroa “beautiful beyond capacity to describe,” so it’s only fitting that his namesake resort leaves visitors inadequately equipped to explain its appeal.  An epic island retreat, not just for former Presidents, a refresher to remind you of its infinite charms! Mere mortals can now safely gather at The Brando Island with the strict French Polynesian Govt. COVID 19 testing mandates in place. Travelers can feel secure escaping to this island paradise, as the Tahitian government has strict pre-arrival Covid-19 rules.

Tetiaroa Island - The Brando
Private Tetiaroa Island , The Brando
Pool The Brando Island

From the air, Tetiaroa Island is nary a speck of tall swaying coconut and vivid green palm fronds surrounded by the palest of brilliantly clear turquoise seas visible from your private plane that transports you from Papeete  to the private island. Your first glimpse is of startling gem blue seas contrasted by white sandy beaches punctuated with miles and miles of jade green palms – a beautiful necklace of sea surrounding the pristine white beaches. 

The Brando Island

Photos provide glammy perspective, however the absolute beauty of the warm indigo seas, the stillness, occasionally interrupted by native birdsong, the natural beauty of the island must be experienced. A rare combination of nature and a man’s love for an island he called home for many years. The Brando experience is unlike any other – imagine balmy breezes, warm gentle seas teeming with flamboyant tropical fish and curious turtles, black night skies filled with thousands of stars, the Southern Sky is also a star at The Brando. The resort was designed to reflect Polynesian lifestyles and culture.

Needs are met before you even think of asking. The staff is extremely efficient and beyond friendly – they are fun, and they seem to be genuinely pleased to assist in any matter. The Villas – in total, 35 stand-alone unobtrusive villas, secreted on white sandy beaches with glorious water views, and nudged into a private thatch of shrubs, fragrant tropical flowers, and swaying coconut palms. The 22 villas along West Turtle Beach and 13 along South Mermaid Bay have been carefully designed to reflect the Polynesian lifestyle and traditions. If you enjoy seclusion, even while knowing there are villas nearby, this should become your tropical paradise. Each day, I saw more guests at dinner, however I felt like it was my own private pristine island as I rarely encountered other guests during the day. 

Out of this world Spa – So gorgeous, relaxing, and stunning architecture. A brief bike ride beneath the towering coconut fronds and you arrive at the secluded pond, the actual location where the Tahitian Royal family once withdrew to rest and indulge in relaxation routines. A natural haven, the spa villas are hidden amid the dense jungle; dragonflies and enormous Lilly pads adorn the scene from your perch above the pond.

Spa Hut The Brando Island
Path to The Spa, The Brando Island

The Brando is a fully inclusive Sanctuary: meals and beverages, a spa treatment each day and an excursion. The Brando is pure paradise. You won’t want to depart!

Paradise The Brando Island

Bora Bora is a tiny South Pacific Island escape northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia. From the sky, it appears as a shimmering green gem plopped into a sapphire expanse of ocean. Surrounded by tiny islets bordered with bright white sand, like a string of pearls floating in a turquoise lagoon ringed by a protective coral reef.

It is no less stunning once you land, the famed posh Four Seasons Resort – is our favorite, highlighted by thatched-roof bungalows hovering over the water, many with private pools. Bora Bora is a divers or snorkelers paradise; the healthy unspoiled reefs are rich with sea life. The dormant volcano rises in two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point is 727-feet and offers the most majestic views and great woodland hikes.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

There is a dreamy private island paradise that feels safe in this ever-changing global oyster; a pearl of a property. Many of our clients have escaped to this island paradise. Set on a motu (islet) on the northeast side of the lagoon, the Four Seasons Resort enjoys uninterrupted views of the dramatic peaks of Bora Bora, which are particularly captivating at sunset. Enchantment begins on the wooden power boat, speeding across the gorgeous aqua seas to the Four Seasons Bora Bora. The cool breeze and surf splashing as you breathe in the fresh air and absorb the astonishing tropical views.

The beach front Villa estates are secluded, have their own pools, and literally feel like private mansions on the pale azure Bora Bora seas. Each over water bungalow has sections of glass floors, you see fish, stingrays, and other marine life, nature at its best, swimming underneath your room! I found myself sitting on the floor, peering for underwater creatures. Furnished with large, plush, king-size beds, a full living room, a spacious outdoor deck, some with plunge pools and every amenity you’d expect to find in a 5-star hotel room.

The bungalows have been recently refurbished, inspired by a traditional Polynesian village, a collaboration between local architect Pierre-Jean Picart and San Francisco design firm BAMO. Additionally, six plunge pools were added to existing overwater bungalow suites, bringing the total number of overwater accommodations with pools to 27, and the total overwater room count to 108.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bor

This is also a perfect combo visit arrive first to The Brando – exhale, recover your balance and for a more active lifestyle mosey to PPT and jet over to Bora Bora. Both are hedonistic perfection!