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The tuk-tuk choked, concrete-clad streets of Bangkok don’t exactly scream of eco-friendly escapades, but Bangkok Tree House sits in a green lung in the midst of the smog. Bunk down for a night in the tropical treetops of Bang Krachao Island. This boutique hotel offers four unique rooms, each with a nod to nature. In keeping with their eco-friendly mission, there’s no fumigation, so it’s a bug’s life all round, but the setting more than makes up for any creepy crawlies.
If you’re a nature-lover, the View with a Room is pure paradise – a bamboo open-air villa set seven metres above the ground with only the sun and stars for light. During the day borrow a bike (they’re free) and explore the jungle, waterways and temples. When you return take a dip in the natural swimming pond then head to the 24-hour ice-cream bar for a cool treat.
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The six-storey treehouse on steroids
Imagine a house that resembles something out of The Jetsons. Now think about how difficult that would be to build. Not only has it happened on the banks of Bali’s Ayung River, but this spectacular six-storey abode has also been created entirely from bamboo. Up to 11 people can be accommodated in Sharma Springs’ four bedrooms. Many of the living areas are open at the sides, allowing guests to feel at home in the forest, and there’s an office space (just in case you feel like you have to stay forever), media room, kids’ play room and a private garden with a pool. It’s part of a planned sustainable community only 25 minutes from Ubud, so you can head into town if you feel the need to escape all this peace and quiet.
Cruise Norway’s waterways
Norway is beautiful come snow or sunshine, but to witness this Scandinavian beauty at its most magical you need to pay attention to the light. Or more precisely, the lack thereof, as is the case in northern Norway from November to February. A cruise along Norway’s coast has been recognised as one of the globe’s most beautiful sea journeys, but with dramatic differences in weather year round, when is the best time to do it? The calendar’s two extremes – winter’s long Polar nights and summer’s ethereal midnight sun – are the undeniable highlights.
Winter is of course the perfect time to see the northern lights. And with Hurtigruten’s Northern Lights Promise you are guaranteed to see these fleeting light shows from onboard one of their ships. What’s more, rather than just holing up inside for the winter, Norwegians love to party. So there are many festivals in the winter like the Northern Lights Festival in Tromsø; the Tromsø International Film Festival; and for the really active, the Polar Night Half Marathon (spiked shoes essential!).
There’s also an abundance of snow adventures on offer with Hurtigruten, including shore excursions such as dog sledding safaris, snow scooter trips, snow-shoeing, sleigh rides, and more. Plus if you arrive in November prepare to get festive at one of the many Christmas markets.
Between May and August, under the soft midnight sun, the incredible scenery of Norway’s fjords are on full display from the panorama decks on board. Spring and Summer are also wonderful times to see wildlife. From polar bears in Svalbard, to puffins at the Vesterålen archipelago, all visible even from the ship’s deck. Or get onshore and take a midnight hike across a glacier and you can even take a dip in the ocean! Admire wildflowers blossoming as the tundra comes alive – get out among nature on a trekking excursion and marvel at the beautiful colours of summer blooms. No matter what time of year it is, a cruise up the Norwegian coast is probably going to be a little bit magnificent.
The best beach you’ve never heard of
A towel laid out on an icing sugar stretch of sand, the sweet juice of a tender green coconut, an aquamarine sea gently lapping the shore, fresh seafood on the menu every evening – Port Salut in Haiti’s south ticks the boxes of the perfect Caribbean holiday destination. But despite its picture postcard nature, there’s only a handful of other tourists in sight.
Recent years have seen tourism to Haiti flounder as a result of 2010’s devastating earthquake and a wave of political instability. But now the country has its sights firmly set on rebuilding the local tourism industry, with Port Salut a major focus. A major new all-inclusive resort just opened in the north – could the south be next? Either way, we’d strongly advise you get here sooner rather than later. With waterfalls, caves and historic ruins all within easy reach of the low-key hotels and guesthouses peppered around Port Salut, this tropical secret is bound to catch the attention of the world in the not too distant future.
Live in a wooden elephant in Asia
Dumbo would be proud to know that one of the world’s most unusual eco-hotels takes his shape. The two-storey Kumbuk River Elephant Villa has an open lounge on the upper deck and two extra-large bedrooms downstairs, all crafted from wood and straw. With its lush river location, about 260 kilometres from Colombo, guests can take advantage of all the resort’s activities, including nature walks, bird watching and rafting. If living inside an elephant doesn’t soothe your pangs for pachyderms, take a day trip to Yala National Park where you can spot leopards, water buffalo, sloth bears and, of course, Sri Lankan elephants.
Rest your head in a turreted abode
Swish resorts don’t usually tug at our heartstrings, but sometimes a property comes along that breaks all our rules. Located in the Fermanagh Lakelands on a private 250-hectare peninsula, Lough Erne blends heritage and modern extravagance. Lodges and turrets, featuring decadent trimmings and spectacular views, line the glassy waters of Castle Hume Lough. For golfers there are two championship courses. If swinging isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty to do. Sail across Lough Erne to little isles for a picnic among historic ruins then treat yourself to a massage at the resort’s Thai-inspired spa before an evening of farm-to-table fine dining at Catalina Restaurant.
The themed hotel that’ll rev your engine
Get your motor running in one of the themed rooms at this ode to the engine, V8 Hotel. Located in the heart of Motorworld, where there’s a museum, flight simulator, indoor theme park, restaurants, a brewery and outlet shopping mall, this former airport hotel has smart suites with artwork bearing an automotive scene. It’s the beds set up between car wash brushes or kitted out like a roadside camp on Route 66, however, that really rev the beating of our hearts. Top of the line is the Mercedes Suite with a car bonnet at the end of the bed and a sundeck overlooking the countryside.
The Dam’s sexy new skyscraper hotel
We’re all up for a bit of urban redevelopment and this is one of the best examples happening anywhere in the world at the moment. The 22 storeys of the Toren Overhoeks are undergoing a complete overhaul with a musical edge to become A’DAM Tower. Here, you’ll find music schools, nightclubs and a number of restaurants, including Moon, which revolves to offer 360-degree views of the city. Be close to all this action at Sir Adam, which opened in late 2016. Not surprisingly, there’s a music theme to its low-key luxe rooms, with Crosley turntables, vinyl records, original artwork and mirrors etched with lyrics. The huge windows are also decked out with benches so you can look out over the city while listening to some fresh beats.
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp is one of the most established camps in Africa and a go-to destination for safari lovers.
Parked on the banks where the Zambezi and Chongwe rivers converge, its nine classic tents and larger tented suites (they have plunge pools) are decked out in luxurious colonial style, with outdoor bathrooms and private decks overlooking the magnificent surrounds. Of course, any trip to Africa must have its share of wildlife and you won’t have to wait long after you’ve arrived. Elephants visit the camp, hippos live in the river – and serenade guests day and night – and lions are never far away. Once you’ve had your fill of exploration for the day, the chefs cook amazing meals you can eat beneath the night sky.
During the day… All guests have guides who can take them out on safari – whether you want to see prides of lions or fancy yourself as a twitcher – in canoes, 4WDs or on foot. There’s also the chance to go fishing or visit local communities.
Shack up in Hong Kong’s hottest hotel
Patterned marble, galvanised steel, textured concrete and raw timber are the over-riding materials used in the 66 rooms of this boutique hotel, Tuve. It seems like minimalism in the extreme, with local architects Design Systems using a series of photos of a Swedish lake – rocks partly submerged and mists swirling – as the unlikely inspiration. Natural light is also utilised, with translucent wired glass, a material more often seen in offices, separating bed and bathroom. In the ground floor restaurant, Silver Room, where folds of metal create privacy between tables, the menu has a decidedly Japan-meets-Italy vibe. It won’t be everyone’s stripped-back glass of fizzy water, but it’s certainly a game changer
in bigger-is-better Hong Kong.
