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Unveiled in 2006, the Hotel Marqués de Riscal was an opportunity for Frank Gehry to showcase his signature style against an exquisite backdrop – the rolling hills of the Rioja wine region. Looking at the result, you can see why Vanity Fair described Gehry as “the most important architect of our age.”
Gleaming ribbons of titanium almost mimic the undulating surrounds, while the tilted walls and cathedral ceilings contrast with the warmth of wood and canny homely touches found in the 43 rooms and suites. We imagine that sipping tempranillo on the angled terrace while gazing across to the medieval town of Elciego would keep most lovers of wine and design satisfied for quite some time.
highlightCategory: Stay
Where to rest your head at night
Ulusaba
If you were worth a reported US$4.8 billion, with a string of luxurious private digs scattered across almost every exotic pocket of the globe, where would you park your well-heeled hide for a South African sojourn? You wouldn’t bed down on the savannah camping with the riffraff, that’s for sure. No sir, if you were high-flying charisma-connoisseur Richard Branson you’d find the highest point on the highest hill to lord it over your own private kingdom. Welcome to Ulusaba Safari Lodge, Sir Richard’s private game reserve where the travel-preneur takes a break from counting his coin in absolute unmitigated luxury. A stay here is enviable by anyone’s standards but the Rock Lodge, with its sweeping views and opulent surrounds, is the pinnacle of decadence.
Each unique suite melds traditional African art with the finest in modern luxury, ranging from private plunge pools to hot tubs and feasts from a personal chef. The staff aches to satisfy, so relish a massage on the outdoor deck and smooth out the bumps from the road. Or, if your idea of bliss involves downward dogs, just ask for a yoga instructor and they’ll fly one in. Stop by the well-stocked cellar flowing with South African wine and finish your evening at the bush observatory under a canopy of stars.
Your own private island at Oravae Cottage
If you’ve ever dreamed of disappearing to your own Pacific island with just the sound of lapping waves accompanying you, then Oravae Cottage could be for you. Perched on the edge of a tiny island about 20 minutes by boat from Gizo, these three gorgeous cottages offer the chance to really get away from it all.
The main cottage has a double bedroom and up to five single beds, while a small kitchenette allows for coffee-making and snacks. The main living area spills onto an overwater deck with perfect views of the lagoon and the setting sun.
Spend the days as you please. Whether it be plunging off the overwater veranda into the vodka-clear lagoon, or simply sitting back sipping a lagoon-clear vodka, the choice is yours. You can arrange fishing, diving, surfing and trekking all from the comfort of your hammock, or simply jump off the deck and snorkel the day away.
The local owners live on the opposite side of the island and spoil you with three delicious meals a day. Pick up a freshly caught tuna at Gizo market and dine on ceviche or tuna steaks that evening. Oh, ask for the coconut crab curry; it’s simply stunning.
Whatever you decide to do, you’ll be stunned that for as little as US$150 per person you can have your own island in paradise to yourself. This becomes clear as the sun goes down and the rest of the world seems non-existent.
Aotaha Cave Lodge
Enjoy a memorable night as you sleep in a natural cave halfway down a cliff face in the Solomon Islands. Aotaha Cave Lodge on Bellona Island gives a new meaning to the concept of getting away from it all, with its isolated location and alfresco atmosphere providing a unique experience.
Watch the sunrise from the mouth of the cave each morning, hunt for coconut crabs and try your hand at fishing. Local families will cook your catch for your dinner. Crayfish, anyone?
Garden Village Bled
Located in a country already considered something of a hidden gem, Lake Bled is one of the most beautiful and idyllic places on earth, surrounded by forests and alps dotted with castles of the sort you thought only existed in story books. Among all this natural splendour is the eco-friendly paradise of Garden Village, offering a top spot to rejuvenate during a grand European adventure.
There are two options of the tented variety: cute and comfy pier tents sitting over the water, and luxurious two-storey glamping tents – complete with mezzanine bedroom, living space and mini-bar – set in the forest. Opened in June 2014, Garden Village really is in some ways like a youth hostel, but without the scary share dorms. Instead there is an infinity pool, communal living area with an open fire, Finnish sauna, smart restaurant and electric rental cars.
During the day there’s a hit parade of activities in which to partake, from river tubing to bike tours, hiking to paragliding. Pack a picnic and head, via pletna, a traditional wooden boat, to beautiful Bled Island.
Wanderlust Hotel
In the cultural hodgepodge of Singapore’s Little India district, this kooky boutique gem is the flashiest kid on the block. Four design studios were each given a level of an old 1920s school building to let their imaginations run wild, and the result is a spectacular testament to imagination.
Check into one of the unique themed rooms and marvel at the whimsical fantasy land they’ve created. From the disco-style jacuzzi to the foosball table in the bar and the shopping trolley chair in the lounge, Wanderlust is cheeky and vibrant down to the funkiest detail.
Glendoria glamping
This cool spot in the Masuria region of Poland packs in plenty of Eastern European charm. About a three-hour drive from Warsaw in the country’s north-east, the ‘funky village for urban people’ – as it is described by its owners – is tucked in between a pine forest and a lake.
An old barn with a fireplace, library, cinema and bar forms the social heart of the camp, but each shelter is well equipped with a wood fire, fridge, wi-fi, bathroom and hammock strung up on the veranda.
Campers can gather provisions from the town a kilometre away, but for a more luxurious approach opt for full board and start the day with ostrich egg scramble followed by Polish and Mediterranean cuisine – think cured meats, grilled vegetables and ukha, a traditional soup made with fish caught from the nearby lake, washed down with a bottle of Zywiec, the local lager. Na zdrowie!
During the day go scuba diving, splash around the lake on kayaks or cool off in the swimming pool. Back on shore there’s beach volleyball and badminton, as well as trekking and bike riding. Once you’re done exploring, relax with a range of spa treatments.
Jungle immersion at Canopy Tower
Wake to the calls of the rainforest. Set on a hill in a national park, Canopy Tower hotel offers guests an experience that’s nestled in nature, with the lights of Panama City glimmering in distant view. Built in 1965 by the US Air Force to house radars, this unusual structure has had numerous identity changes – including a stint as a control tower used to detect aircraft suspected of carrying drugs – before its transformation into the bird-watching haven it is today.
Grab a set of binoculars and search the canopy for toucans, fruitcrows and hawks, and keep your eyes peeled for sloths and howler monkeys. During the day, kayak the Panama Canal, go fishing, hitch a ride on the Birdmobile to top ‘twitching’ spots or just chill in an indoor hammock.
Glamping on Khalouf Beach
An ever-changing bank of dunes hems this empty stretch of pale sand. Drive five hours south from Muscat along the Omani coastline and you’ll find one of the Middle East’s best beaches. Just back from the lapping waves, a luxury camp operated by Hud Hud Travels is the perfect romantic getaway. Amble straight from your tent into the Indian Ocean and soak away the sultry heat of Oman’s south. Here, flamingos wade with pink legs into gentle waves and eagles swoop on the surface, rising with fish glistening in their talons. During the day jump in a 4WD and take the ferry to nearby Masirah Island, where sea turtles breed, or head to Barr al Hickman, a saltpan where migratory birds flock. Otherwise just enjoy the seclusion on the sand or snorkel off the shore.
Glamping meets Survivor in remote Norway
Inspired by his work on the TV show ’71° Nord,’ Norway’s answer to ‘Survivor,’ Jan Fasting cobbled together nine yurts by one of the country’s lakes to create Canvas Hotel, striking a perfect balance between comfort and outdoorsy thrills. As a guest, you can hire a bike and spend your days throttling the 100 kilometres of granite tracks twisting through the bush, or head on one of the hotel’s organised tours. At the end of the day, return for refreshments from the beer tap on wheels, and enjoy a feast cooked on a raclette tabletop grill.
Soak your aching muscles in a vintage bathtub by the lake then simmer in the sauna and, if you’re game, do as the locals do and dive into the ice-cold water. Once you’re ready for bed, bunk down in your yurt where carpet, a layer of wool insulation and a log fire keep things comfy.
Add a touch of the bizarre to your experience by booking a lakeside concert with Keith Austin, a former member of the rock band Dr. Hook who lives in a nearby village, and relax with a massage. For the ultimate showstopper, explore the countryside by helicopter.
