Top Luxury Holiday Destinations
A luxury holiday destination should have it all, with excellent food, an abundance of activities and accommodation so pristine that you feel like you’ve ended up in heaven on earth. Upscale Living magazine went in search of the Top luxury holiday destinations, where you will never have to lift a finger.
AZURA BENGUERRA, MOZAMBIQUE | Welcome to the Villa of your dreams. Described as one of the best villas anywhere in the Indian Ocean, the Presidential Villa at Azura Benguerra is fit for guests who enjoy seclusion and privacy.
With your personal butler-host, private chef and own stretch of beach, you will feel like you have landed in paradise.
Its unique décor lends itself to the feeling of being lost at sea while all the modern conveniences are at hand to ensure that you can want for nothing – air conditioning, Nespresso machines, gym in a bag and Wi-Fi.
Your style will not be cramped in this exquisite property of 4,574 square feet interior space and a private area measuring 11,751 square feet.
The three bedrooms accommodate six people with ease and you can spend days staring at the ocean views from your master bedroom sitting area or reclining in one of the two beach salas. Unwind in your freeform bath or in the several relaxation areas.
If that’s not enough, there is a treehouse with views, daybeds and sun loungers, a huge infinity 17 yard swimming pool spanning the front of the villa, indoor and outdoor bathrooms, a media room and a sitting / dining area with ‘wine bar’.
With your own helicopter landing area, you can enter or exit the island once you’ve had enough … of the gentle sea breeze and the beautiful vistas over Benguerra Island and the Indian Ocean. You’ll probably never want to leave. https://www.azura-retreats.com/azura-benguerra
ROYAL CHUNDU, ZAMBIA | Occupying a private stretch of the Zambezi River, Royal Chundu is the jewel in Zambia’s crown. As the name emphasises, you are in for a royal delight when staying at Island Lodge or River Lodge. Be prepared to be swept away by the charm of the staff and the congruous ambience of nature coupled with nurture.
You will be hard-pressed to find any lodge in Zambia that is more in keeping with style and community involvement. Produce is sourced within a 1,86 mile radius ensuring freshness and the best taste when it comes to cuisine.
Absolute privacy is key at Royal Chundu and you will relish staying at one of the four magnificent Island Lodge villas situated on Katombora Island. Imagine waking up to the call of the African fish eagle or taking refuge in your freestanding bath on your private deck overlooking the Zambezi river.
For thrill seekers, the magnificence of negotiating the rapids in a canoe will surely elevate your heart-rate.
It comes as no surprise that MD & Owner, Tina Aponte and the entire team at Royal Chundu were awarded the World Travel Award for Zambia’s Leading Safari Lodge for the 7th year in a row, recognising the extraordinary benchmark of quality they have set since for visitors to this pristine haven of tranquillity. www.royalchundu.com
THE LODGE, VERBIER, SWITZERLAND | A wintery wonderland awaits you upon arrival at The Lodge in Verbier, Switzerland. Perched high on the Swiss Alps, the adrenaline junkie in you will make the most of all there is on offer – from heli-skiing trips to paragliding. Those wanting to take it easy have the option of snowshoeing or a casual hike through the woods.
The two incomparable Master Suites are located on the top floor with private balconies against a spectacular mountainous backdrop. Centrepiece fireplaces ward off the cold and spend your evenings relaxing on comfortable sofas. Luxuriate in your spacious bathroom while soaking in your huge tub, revitalising your aching muscles from too much fun on the ski slopes.
If you want to bring the kids along, you can interconnect the Master Suite or if you want them a little further afield, have them stay in The Bunk Room. Located on the second floor, this glorious room can accommodate six children and is equipped with three sets of bunk beds, a separate shower room, a plasma screen TV with a DVD player, a games console and bean bags. Something tells me they would want to move in permanently. Or perhaps it has something to do with the full sized Toblerone placed on your pillow every night ….
With only nine bedrooms, Sir Richard Branson’s mountain retreat is the perfect escape with an intimate atmosphere, making it the ideal getaway for couples or families.
https://www.virginlimitededition.com/en/the-lodge
NORTH ISLAND, SEYCHELLES | Scooping the prestigious National Geographic World Legacy Awards in the category of conserving the natural world in 2017, North Island in the Seychelles is a beacon of sustainability and conservation.
“We are thrilled to have received this significant endorsement from National Geographic – it certainly inspires us to continue offering high-end ecotourism that is both authentic and sustainable at the same time. Whilst we are proud of our various conservation successes at North Island, there remains a great deal of work to be done and we remain deeply committed to driving our Noah’s Ark Island Rehabilitation Programme forwards”, said North Island MD, Bruce Simpson.
North Island is situated 18 miles from the main island of Mahé, Seychelles. With unsurpassed exclusivity and indulgence, only eleven spacious guest villas ensure absolute seclusion in a picturesque setting of luminous white beaches, filigree reefs and the azure Indian Ocean.
Luxury and bespoke service proliferates the matchless sanctuary with natural habitats, rehabilitated endangered fauna and flora of the Seychelles and giant Aldabra tortoises that take centre stage.
There is so much to do on North Island, on land or in water – choose from cool forest trails and mountain biking to snorkelling, diving, kayaking, fishing expeditions and romantic sunset boat cruises, boredom is not an option.
A tailor-made programme for families makes it easy for North Island to cater to your specific requirements and the Beach Buddy programme is brilliant, allowing kids the freedom to explore their preferences while parents can revel in the romance that is all-encompassing at North Island. www.north-island.com
SUGAR BEACH, SAINT LUCIA, WEST INDIES | Set in one of the most spectacular sites in the world, Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort is located in the majestic valley of the Pitons. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the resort is spread across more than one hundred acres of tropical forest, unrivalled for its natural beauty, with the only white sand beaches in the area.
Formerly a working plantation, the property had a complete three-year multi-million dollar transition at the end of 2012 that saw a re-brand and relaunch as Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort.
With 77 Luxury Villas and Luxury Cottages, 8 Luxury Beachfront Bungalows and 11 Sugar Mill Rooms, you have plentiful accommodation choices. Nestled in the mountain side, the Luxury Sugar Mill rooms are within close proximity of the main facilities and have the same plantation elegant styling as the Luxury Villas. Each has a private plunge pool and walled garden while the Superior Luxury Sugar Mill Rooms have the added benefit of a roof terrace. The Luxury Beachfront Bungalows are right on the sands of Sugar Beach and steps away from the water’s edge.
All of Sugar Beach’s luxury villas are built in small clusters and are furnished with a 4-poster bed, air conditioning, flat screen TV and iPod station, enormous walk-in body shower, claw foot bathtub, separate WC and bidet, wooden floor in bedroom and bathroom, oversize plunge pool, pool terrace and furniture and mini-bar. www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/sugarbeach
