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Following the long awaited air bridge announcement, we are dreaming about the perfect European holidays to book now that we’ve been given the green light to travel. From a romantic spa getaway in France to a cliffside haven in Ibiza, here are our top picks from luxury travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith…
Les Roches Rouges, Cote d’Azure
European holidays: Romantic spa getaway in France
Boutique hotel Les Roches Rouges has sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea, a sleek aesthetic, a carefully-curated cocktail list and a photogenic stoned-lined pool by the surf. This effortlessly cool hideaway flirts with the fringes Fréjus, on the edge of L’Esterel National Park. The petite spa doles out Polynesian massages and mineral-rich scrubs. Hearty Provençal feasts can be taken alfresco, and sea-view private balconies are the perfect place for evening glasses of wine.
La Bobadilla, Andalucia
European holidays: A rural, family escape in Spain
Set within its own 800-acre estate, the family-friendly hotel offers a taste of authentic Andalucia. Lounge poolside en famille or lose yourself among verdant olive groves while little ones are at the kids’ club. A never-ending to-do list keeps young guests busy, and there’s a hi-tech spa and gong-garnering dining, too.
Sir Savigny, Berlin
European holidays: A stylish city break in Germany
Boutique hotel Sir Savigny is based on a fictional bon vivant. Clearly, the nobleman is in tune with the modern city, but he’s still got the gleam of old-world decadence in his eye. The hotel’s dark-hued interiors are distinctly contemporary, but they also showcase gold-edged mirrors, art deco chandeliers and green velvet bed-covers. All of which act like a tip of the hat to the city’s indulgent past. The local area, Savignyplatz, is still a firm favourite with Berlin’s literati, which the hotel pays homage to with literary-themed artworks by local artist Katharina Musick. When your appetite for the city’s cultural offerings finally gives way to something a little more carnal, you’ll find the remedy at the hotel’s restaurant. The Butcher serves up some of the best Aberdeen Angus burgers in town.
Castello di Vicarello, Tuscany
European holidays: A wine lover’s paradise in Italy
Refined Tuscan estate Castello di Vicarello has had 900 years to cultivate its air of rustic majesty. The honey-coloured buildings and perfumed gardens look like they’ve sprung from the canvas of an Italian master. Despite the romantic atmosphere, the hotel is still very much rooted to the rolling and fertile land on which it sits. Delectable home-style cuisine is prepared in the castle’s historic kitchen, which draws much of its produce from the organic garden, vineyards and olive groves. All of which sit within the enchanting grounds. There are two valley-facing infinity pools to choose from, a Balinese hut for massages, yoga and personal training in the summer months and several tiers of cyprus-studded gardens and manicured lawns on which to bask under the Tuscan sun.
Seven Pines Kempinski Ibiza
European holidays: A cliff-side heaven in Spain
Sea-facing Seven Pines Kempinski Ibiza takes its name from the sweet-scented evergreen conifers that surround it. It should probably work the word ‘cliff’ into its moniker too, given its secluded setting right on the island’s Es Vedrà -facing, easterly edge. The state-of-the-art Pure Seven spa will have you rejuvenated before you can say ‘om’, and the infinity pool is the place to appreciate the cliff-side setting – especially through the gleaming glass wall that showcases the sea.
Main image – Les Roches Rouges, Cote d’Azure
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