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Tag: glamour curated

  • The most luxurious spas in the world

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    Hotel Valldemossa

    The vibe: I loathe to write this review because as much as I want to wax lyrical about my incredible stay at Hotel Valldemossa, I’m equally desperate to preserve it as my secret haven.

    Tucked high above the sleepy, pine-scented village of picture-perfect Valldemossa and with just twelve adult-only rooms (a God-send for frazzled parents seeking silence), Hotel Valldemossa is an embodiment of Mallorca’s rural charm. Formerly part of the ancient Carthusian monastery, the serene hideaway is the brainchild of IT Mallorca group that’s been reimagined as a slick yet serene adults-only retreat nestled in the lush Tramuntana mountains.

    As a London dweller, the first thing that strikes you is the tranquility: birdsong, rustling olive trees, the occasional toll of the monastery bell below. With a nod to the intimate feel of a White Lotus hotel, the staff not only know you by name but quickly pick up on exactly what you need from the hotel and offer it with aplomb.

    At the core of the hotel’s philosophy is healing. Enter: the Sanctuary spa, a cave-like haven carved into the hillside, complete with a private pool, sauna, and a treatment menu curated by wellness expert Amor Garzón. Amor’s treatments (from lymphatic drainage and sound therapy to acupuncture) pay homage to the Piroche method. It’s not just the treatments that are restorative, it’s the entire experience. Morning yoga takes place on the open-air deck, surrounded by citrus trees and rosemary hedges, whilst hikes begin right from the hotel’s gate, winding through ancient terraces and wildflower paths. There’s an outdoor gym with vistas of the quiet mountains and hammocks nestled into the orange groves. This is the kind of place where doing less becomes the point.

    The hotel’s foodie offering matches the bucolic vistas the restaurant is set against. De Tokio a Lima takes its name—and culinary spirit—from three corners of the globe: the minimalist elegance of Japan, the bold vibrancy of Peru, and the soulful ingredients of the Mediterranean. The result? Fresh sashimi with citrusy fire, grilled local vegetables elevated with miso and spice, and a delectable red shrimp with cuttlefish and creamy rice.

    Breakfast is a ritual in itself: still-warm breads baked on site and flaky, just-baked pastries are set next to overnight oats and generous platters of local cheeses and artisanal cold cuts. There’s even a DIY pan con tomate station best washed down with a glass of fizz and views of the monastery, mist still clinging to its steeples.

    As you breathe in the crisp, pine-scented mountain air and glance meditatively over the olive tree-adorned hills of the Serra de Tramuntana, it’s not hard to see why Frédéric Chopin was sent to the town of Valldemossa to recover from tuberculosis. This is not just a hotel stay. It’s a full-body exhale.

    Why we love it: The best spa in Mallorca, hands down
    Price per night: From £950 per week 
    Address: Vieja de Valldemossa, 07170 Valldemossa, Mallorca
    Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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    Bianca London, Sheilla Mamona

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  • I found peace at this otherworldly luxury hotel in Iceland

    I found peace at this otherworldly luxury hotel in Iceland

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    There are also submerged treatment options, with in-water massages and ‘float therapy’ providing the opportunity to to soak up all the expertise of ‘bodyworkers’ without having to leave the lagoon.

    If that all sounds far too relaxing, you can call on any member of the infinitely-attentive – yet in no way intrusive – team of hosts to book you on one of the many external excursions, ranging from helicopter tours of the Reykjanes Peninsula to guided photography tours, volcano tours, snowmobiling, snorkelling among the subaquatic hot springs at Kleifarvatn lake and ATV adventures.

    We opted for the latter one morning, and quickly found ourselves motoring across lava fields, black sand beaches and insanely lunar-like mountainscapes before stopping-off to warm our freezing hands in one of those puffs of volcanic steam; the unmistakably eggy sulfur smell being the only thing to bring you back to reality during an otherwise entirely otherworldly experience.

    Whether you spend your days white-knuckling your way around the island’s outdoor activity scene or soaking the day away in the lagoon, your worked-up appetite is in no danger of being left wanting.

    With a cosy, universally dressing gown-clad breakfast served in the sunken lobby seating pre-sunrise (fear not the lie-in was safe – sunrise isn’t until 11am in December) and afternoon tea served daily in the same spot, other mealtimes offer up the impressive choice between the spa restaurant (serving an exceptional burger), Lava restaurant (relaxed dining with stunning views out onto the shores of the Blue Lagoon) or the jewel in the crown: Moss restaurant.

    Having been awarded a Michelin star earlier this summer, Moss, led by Head Chef Aggi Sverrisson, sees 5 and 7-course set menus take you on a diverse tour of the heritage of Icelandic cuisine.

    Switching effortlessly between food from the mountains to the farmlands, via rivers and oceans, dishes are almost Oscar-worthy in their visual theatrics, with dry ice tumbling over salt-fresh prawns and perfectly-seared beef served atop a smoking lump of authentic volcanic rock.

    Iceland's The Retreat At The Blue Lagoon Hotel And Spa Review
    Iceland's The Retreat At The Blue Lagoon Hotel And Spa Review

    After heading back through that vast-yet-cosy lobby to our room on the final night, we received our first much-anticipated ‘wake-up call’ while packing. The Northern Lights had finally appeared.

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    Charlie Teather

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