Here’s where the Asia Family Team will be heading when borders reopen.
Treehouses in Bali
Hideaway in the trees at Bali's Nirjhara eco retreat.
Nirjhara on Bali’s southwest coast is designed around a cascading waterfall and surrounded by lush forests and rolling rice paddies.
And what’s more, you get to stay in a treehouse.
The secluded eco retreat is in the Tanah Lot region, close to Canggu and the mythical Tanah Lot Temple. It's a boutique property offering just 25 suites and villas, including seven treehouse Canopy Suites with spectacular waterfall, river, jungle or rice field views.
The family-owned retreat has been designed mindful of the surrounding environment; exteriors use reclaimed hevea wood, stone and traditional sirap roofing. Inside, expect an earthy palette channeling Indonesian design with woven furniture handcrafted by local artisans, coconut panelling and contemporary art from up-and-coming local artists.
Ambu, Nirjhara’s dining space, takes a ‘slow food’ approach to eating and 95% of ingredients are sourced from the hotel’s veggie garden and neighbouring farms.
When you’re not relaxing and drinking in the views, head to the treatment rooms for a massage, body scrub, sound healing, reiki or reflexology, using natural products sourced on the island. Additionally, there are two Finnish saunas, a fitness centre and The Shala, a riverside bamboo-clad yoga pavilion overlooking the waterfall.
Or head off-site on a cycle ride through the rice fields, pick-up a surf lesson on the nearby beach or saddle-up for a sunset horse ride.
And this summer guests can also sail off into a Bali sunset on board Vela, a six-cabin yacht available for private charter.
Stately homes in England
English country vibes at Coworth Park near Windsor.
Dorchester Collection’s Michelin-starred country house hotel and spa, Coworth Park near Windsor, has unveiled a brand new, three-bedroom cottage.
Head-up the private driveway to the country cottage with its three spacious bedrooms, lobby, dining room and kitchen. Opt to cook for yourself or enjoy the handiwork of the chef from the ‘big house’.
North Lodge is in fact Coworth Park’s gatehouse and is located on the outskirts of the grounds. It caters for up to six guests and, along with full access to the rest of the estate, gatehouse guests can also stretch out in a private garden.
The property channels the English countryside, with antiques sourced in local villages and walls hung with artwork by local artists.
The master bedroom enjoys dual aspects over the meadow and the garden and boasts an ensuite bathroom with a signature Coworth Park copper bathtub. Two further bedrooms include The Turret - also replete with a copper bathtub - and the Snug, with romantic views across the wildflower meadow.
The dining room seats up to ten guests and the kitchen boasts Miele appliances, Teppan Yaki plate, steam oven and Sous Vide unit.
Head out of the French doors into the garden with deck and dining space and a sitting area with a wood-burning stove.
Stroll up to The Spa at Coworth Park with its treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure suite, relaxation room, Spatisserie, gym indoor pool and sun terrace.
And enjoy a meal at the Michelin-starred Mansion House restaurant or an oh-so English afternoon tea in the Drawing Room.
Splendid sea views in Portofino
Seaside style at Belmond's Splendido Mare in glorious Portofino.
If you’re returning to travel, do it in style. Belmond property Splendido Mare is set to reopen in April following a total - and super-stylish - renovation.
No expense has been spared embracing locally sourced and handmade furnishings - think Carrara marble in the bathrooms, soft Italian fabrics by Loro Piana and Rubelli and wall lamps of Murano glass.
Guest rooms channel the nautical surroundings while one of the suites has been inspired by Ava Gardner, a frequent visitor to the property when filming The Barefoot Contessa with Humphrey Bogart in 1954.
Rooms include La Marea (tide), Fioco (jib), Gozzo and Riva (boats), La Baia (bay), Aurora (new dawn), Libeccio (southwesterly wind) and Tramontana (northerly wind).
The nautical vibe continues into the dining space with 7,000 terracotta tiles handmade by local Ligurian craftsmen laid on the floor to mirror the undulation of the water and create a feeling of walking on the sea.
The guest house’s art collection includes specially commissioned pieces by Italian artist Gabriele Cappelli, as well as pieces portraying Portofino by Ligurian artists.
According to architect Charlotte de Tonnac, the design for Splendido Mare has worked on “cherishing its humble beginning as a guest house for fishermen… The redesign evokes a stylish home where contemporary and vintage pieces co-exist to provide a timeless feel. We want guests to feel comfortable, at ease, but also to feel the historical spirit.”
Villa vibes in Phu Quoc
The splendid beachfront villas at Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
The seriously luxe Regent Phu Quoc resort on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc will begin welcoming guests this summer.
The serene sanctuary is an easy 15 minutes from Phu Quoc International Airport and fronts onto the white sands of the island’s 20km Long Beach.
The all-suite and villa resort boasts ocean suites with postcard perfect views and beachfront villas with private infinity pools. Relax a deux in a one-bedroom haven or enjoy an expansive seven-bedroom ‘ultra villas’ for larger, family groups.
Interiors specialists BLINK Design have taken a deep-dive into Vietnamese heritage with a contemporary spin.
The resort offers no less than six dining spaces, including signature restaurant Oku, a French-Japanese salon de boeuf; or slip-off to experience the resort’s private destination dining.
Wellness options stretch to treatments at the resort’s spa, a gym, personal trainers and holistic wellness coach, a manicure and pedicure studio, rooftop and indoor yoga pavilions and a full menu of daily scheduled activities including private guided yoga.
Phu Quoc island sits in the Gulf of Thailand just off the coast of Vietnam, boasting a rolling tropical landscape interwoven with rural island villages. About half of the island is designated National Park and in the northern part, just over 300 square kilometres has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. But if you’re looking for those icing sugar beaches, head to the south.
Island hopping in the Maldives
Ritz-Carlton Maldives is just one of the properties to be opening at a four-island resort.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, will be the first of three fabulous properties to open at a multi-island resort on June 1.
The so-called ‘super resort’ will be spread across four islands in the North Male Atoll, just a 50-minute speedboat ride or a ten-minute seaplane hop from the international airport at Male.
Originally slated to open in late 2020, the resort will also host Capella Maldives, which opens later this year with 57 villas and mansions, and Patina Maldives.
Ritz-Carlton Maldives offers 100 one- to three-bedroom villas and each comes with a ‘aris meeha’, or personal host.
Further facilities at the stunning property include six restaurants, a spa and a Jean-Michel Cousteau sustainability programme to manage dive and snorkelling explorations. Littlies will be kept entertained courtesy of the Ritz Kids programme.
Guests are free to move between all four islands, which include the ‘hub’ area of Fari Marina with beach club, boutique shops and yet more dining spaces.
The project has been led by Pontiac Land, a Singapore-based luxury property developer, who has collaborated with award-winning architects and designers to develop the resort. Partnerships include architect Kengo Kuma who designed Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium and Hong Kong designer Andre Fu, who was the mastermind behind the Asian city’s recently opened St Regis property. Both worked with Capella Maldives for this project.
Meanwhile, Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan was brought in to design Patina Maldives, aimed at “progressive travellers of a new generation”. The resort offers 20 studios and 90 beach and overwater villas with one to three bedrooms.
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