endless summer of luxury
ENDLESS SUMMER OF LUXURY Follow the footsteps of our favourite A-listers and escape to a land where there are no rules other than sun-kissed skin, barefoot walks, and long lies-ins. Your luxurious summer starts right here…
This power couple’s island life is boho chic with splashes of gold and glamour
what to pack
Dhs124 Paul Ka
Dhs700 Hamac
Dhs79 Parfois
Dhs149 Forever 21
Dhs1,392 Dsquared2
62
THE CAVES, JAMAICA
BEYONCÉ AND JAY Z You know it’s a special place when the butler casually tells you that Beyoncé and Jay Z rang in the New Year here in their private Clandestino villa, only a few months ago. Poised on the scenic limestone cliffs of Negril, the exclusive cliffside accommodations of The Caves in Jamaica will make you feel no less than an off-duty celebrity. The resort only has 12 thatch-roofed cottages, including one and two bedroom apartments and a deluxe suites. This vibrant tropical castle is home to some of the most authentic Jamaican experiences – from a rainforest Aveda spa, to fresh banana cake and local coffee for an afternoon snack and even a glorious stack of
reggae CDs on your bedside table. There’s no beach here, no long strips of palm-fringed sand dotted with sun loungers and baking Westerners, only nooks and crannies carved into the cliff with the odd pair of loungers. Privacy rules here. The endless azure waters will invite you to plunge head first for an early-morning cliff dive. However, if you’re the less freespirited kind, use the coral stairs carved into the rock and then the ladder that will lead you to the reef garden below you. There’s a strict no kids, no TV and no Facebook policy here – which explains why Blue Ivy was being looked after by grandma Tina Knowles-Lawson when Bey and Jay were enjoying the comfort of their handcrafted stone and wood cliffside cottage. • 00 876 957 0270, islandoutpost. com; Rooms start from Dhs2,700 per night
what to pack
Scarf Dhs510 Kate Spade
Dhs9,265 Marie-Hélène de Taillac Dhs1,305 Zimmerman
Dhs875 Zayan The Label
Dhs549 Kurt Geiger
WEEK INWEEKOUT FREGATE ISLAND PRIVATE, SEYCHELLES BRANGELINA
For a power couple like Brangelina who are known for their humanitarian efforts, it wouldn’t suit them if they went on a holiday that didn’t hum the chorus of their favourite tune. Fregate Island Private is at once a secret island hotel and a conservation project; nature and fine-tuned luxury coexist here. This resort provides the sort of castaway idyll that you grew up dreaming about. You can eat lunch on the teak terraces of one of their 16 villas, right next to your own secluded infinity pool with a row of frangipani flowers paving the way for the island birds hoping to steal the crumbs from your bread. Or you can take a walk in the
wilderness where you’d either be sidestepping a giant Aldabra tortoise or taking a dip in the salty waters with the entire beach to yourself. There’s a generous “Beach Occupied” rule here, if you get there before anyone else, the entire palm-fringed, sandy patch is yours with no clocks ticking. The resort has its own airstrip, solar-powered buggies to take you around the lush woodlands and an option
to have breakfast 100 metres up a tree. Despite all this luxury, the resort has a very clear conscience, as they are actively involved in regenerating the island’s ecosystem. It’s no wonder why Brangelina, the Clooneys, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge alike are worshippers of this little gem in the Indian Ocean. • 00 27 21 556 9984; fregate.com. Villas from Dhs18,000 per night
QUALIA, HAMILTON ISLAND MIRANDA KERR
Serving up a cocktail of luxury, glamour and kids-free silence to people like Miranda Kerr, Leonardo DiCaprio, Donna Karan and Carey Mulligan, Qualia is slowing raising the benchmark of the resort-style getaway. This 60-pavilion escape on the northernmost point of Hamilton Island in Australia has all the trappings of your most sensory experience yet. Once you enter its big brown doors, don’t expect to see fellow guests; the resort will become your own sanctuary. Each room has its own open courtyard – ventilated panels, a combination of polished timber from Papua New Guinea, and touches of stone in the bathroom, all these thoughtful detailings complement the rainforest surroundings. Each bedroom
what to pack
Dhs120 Hamac Dhs195 Quay
apartment has its own infinityedge plunge pool facing the Coral Sea in the Whitsundays, that also plays host to some of the most dramatic, watercolour pastel skies if you’re up early enough to enjoy the sunrise. The property is so attuned with nature that you might find a wallaby or possum on your doorstep as you head out for sailing on a private dinner
cruise. The spa here is in the same timber and stone style as the other buildings and treatments include traditional Australian ingredients, including Aboriginal elements like rhythmic massage, a sprinkling of desert salt and a scrub of green and red grapes. • 00 61 1300 780 959, qualia.com.au; Pavilions from Dhs3,100 per night
Dhs29 Forever21
Dhs1,435 Enshalla Dhs185 Oysho
63
WEEK IN WEEK OUT LA PLAGE CASADELMAR, CORSICA
what to pack Dhs59 ASOS
KATE MOSS
During her summers off, the paparazzi have a field day chasing Kate Moss around the Mediterranean. Sometimes they’re cruising the turquoise waters from Dubrovnik to Sicily, and then other days you’d find them on the luxurious French island of Corsica. In the summer of 2012, Kate and her rocker husband Jamie Hince did just that and stayed at this glamorous boutique hotel. This 3,400 square mile chunk of geographical eye candy, just north of Sardinia, has been an irresistible allure for
many in-the-know Europeans, mainly for its untamed, unspoilt beauty that’s turned into a bastion of stealthy chic. Set on the sandy cove bay of Porto-Vecchio, the inspiration for the interiors of this 15-room hotel comes from its surroundings. Awardwinning French architect Jean-François Bodin has used natural materials and simple
lines to shape the silhouette of the La Plage suites, with a mix of old stones, volcanic rock and 300-year-old oak in its construction. The ambience here forces you to bring your fashion A-game. After all, Mossy might be on the sunlounger next to you. • 0033 04 9571 0230, aplagecasadelmar.fr; Suites from Dhs2,000 per night
Jo Malone London Sakura Cherry Blossom Cologne Dhs620
Dhs295 Zara Dhs26,000 Gucci
LE GUANAHANI, ST BART’S
what to pack
Dhs69 Call It Spring
Dhs1,140 Roberto Cavalli
Dhs965 Ale by Alessandra
Dhs380 Aldo
64
The distinctive French flavours, the pristine white sandy beaches, the calm aqua waters and the super stylish accommodation, the Caribbean islands are the place to be if you’re after some serious pampering. Le Guanahani is the Caribbean’s ultimate boutique hotel, with a niche of its own – for starters, it’s the only bona-fide, full-service resort on the island. This 16-acre enclave has three restaurants, two tennis courts, a fitness centre on the beach, St. Bart’s largest spa – with two butler-serviced wellness suites for those who want Rihanna levels of treatment – a Frédéric
Fekkai hair salon and a pool with water purified by ions rather than chlorine. No other resort on the island comes even close to offering a menu like this. Its candy-coloured bungalows, set against dark timber floors, crisp white walls and wicker ceilings, spill down to the arrowhead peninsula. All suites boast a wide selection of Clarins skincare and bath products, giving you all the more reason to have those long
showers. This Caribbean island isn’t the kind where you’d find models-of-the-moment strutting around in the latest Cruise collections. This secluded spot on the northernmost tip of the island is for those invisible, low-key getaways that make you want to leave sand between your toes and your hair unbrushed. • 00 590 590 52 90 00, leguanahani. com; Rooms from Dhs2,495 for one night
Words: Shitika Anand Photos: Getty Images, Splash News, Supplied
RIHANNA
This power couple’s island life is boho chic with splashes of gold and glamour
what to pack
Dhs124 Paul Ka
Dhs700 Hamac
Dhs79 Parfois
Dhs149 Forever 21
Dhs1,392 Dsquared2
62
THE CAVES, JAMAICA
BEYONCÉ AND JAY Z You know it’s a special place when the butler casually tells you that Beyoncé and Jay Z rang in the New Year here in their private Clandestino villa, only a few months ago. Poised on the scenic limestone cliffs of Negril, the exclusive cliffside accommodations of The Caves in Jamaica will make you feel no less than an off-duty celebrity. The resort only has 12 thatch-roofed cottages, including one and two bedroom apartments and a deluxe suites. This vibrant tropical castle is home to some of the most authentic Jamaican experiences – from a rainforest Aveda spa, to fresh banana cake and local coffee for an afternoon snack and even a glorious stack of
reggae CDs on your bedside table. There’s no beach here, no long strips of palm-fringed sand dotted with sun loungers and baking Westerners, only nooks and crannies carved into the cliff with the odd pair of loungers. Privacy rules here. The endless azure waters will invite you to plunge head first for an early-morning cliff dive. However, if you’re the less freespirited kind, use the coral stairs carved into the rock and then the ladder that will lead you to the reef garden below you. There’s a strict no kids, no TV and no Facebook policy here – which explains why Blue Ivy was being looked after by grandma Tina Knowles-Lawson when Bey and Jay were enjoying the comfort of their handcrafted stone and wood cliffside cottage. • 00 876 957 0270, islandoutpost. com; Rooms start from Dhs2,700 per night
what to pack
Scarf Dhs510 Kate Spade
Dhs9,265 Marie-Hélène de Taillac Dhs1,305 Zimmerman
Dhs875 Zayan The Label
Dhs549 Kurt Geiger
WEEK INWEEKOUT FREGATE ISLAND PRIVATE, SEYCHELLES BRANGELINA
For a power couple like Brangelina who are known for their humanitarian efforts, it wouldn’t suit them if they went on a holiday that didn’t hum the chorus of their favourite tune. Fregate Island Private is at once a secret island hotel and a conservation project; nature and fine-tuned luxury coexist here. This resort provides the sort of castaway idyll that you grew up dreaming about. You can eat lunch on the teak terraces of one of their 16 villas, right next to your own secluded infinity pool with a row of frangipani flowers paving the way for the island birds hoping to steal the crumbs from your bread. Or you can take a walk in the
wilderness where you’d either be sidestepping a giant Aldabra tortoise or taking a dip in the salty waters with the entire beach to yourself. There’s a generous “Beach Occupied” rule here, if you get there before anyone else, the entire palm-fringed, sandy patch is yours with no clocks ticking. The resort has its own airstrip, solar-powered buggies to take you around the lush woodlands and an option
to have breakfast 100 metres up a tree. Despite all this luxury, the resort has a very clear conscience, as they are actively involved in regenerating the island’s ecosystem. It’s no wonder why Brangelina, the Clooneys, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge alike are worshippers of this little gem in the Indian Ocean. • 00 27 21 556 9984; fregate.com. Villas from Dhs18,000 per night
QUALIA, HAMILTON ISLAND MIRANDA KERR
Serving up a cocktail of luxury, glamour and kids-free silence to people like Miranda Kerr, Leonardo DiCaprio, Donna Karan and Carey Mulligan, Qualia is slowing raising the benchmark of the resort-style getaway. This 60-pavilion escape on the northernmost point of Hamilton Island in Australia has all the trappings of your most sensory experience yet. Once you enter its big brown doors, don’t expect to see fellow guests; the resort will become your own sanctuary. Each room has its own open courtyard – ventilated panels, a combination of polished timber from Papua New Guinea, and touches of stone in the bathroom, all these thoughtful detailings complement the rainforest surroundings. Each bedroom
what to pack
Dhs120 Hamac Dhs195 Quay
apartment has its own infinityedge plunge pool facing the Coral Sea in the Whitsundays, that also plays host to some of the most dramatic, watercolour pastel skies if you’re up early enough to enjoy the sunrise. The property is so attuned with nature that you might find a wallaby or possum on your doorstep as you head out for sailing on a private dinner
cruise. The spa here is in the same timber and stone style as the other buildings and treatments include traditional Australian ingredients, including Aboriginal elements like rhythmic massage, a sprinkling of desert salt and a scrub of green and red grapes. • 00 61 1300 780 959, qualia.com.au; Pavilions from Dhs3,100 per night
Dhs29 Forever21
Dhs1,435 Enshalla Dhs185 Oysho
63
WEEK IN WEEK OUT LA PLAGE CASADELMAR, CORSICA
what to pack Dhs59 ASOS
KATE MOSS
During her summers off, the paparazzi have a field day chasing Kate Moss around the Mediterranean. Sometimes they’re cruising the turquoise waters from Dubrovnik to Sicily, and then other days you’d find them on the luxurious French island of Corsica. In the summer of 2012, Kate and her rocker husband Jamie Hince did just that and stayed at this glamorous boutique hotel. This 3,400 square mile chunk of geographical eye candy, just north of Sardinia, has been an irresistible allure for
many in-the-know Europeans, mainly for its untamed, unspoilt beauty that’s turned into a bastion of stealthy chic. Set on the sandy cove bay of Porto-Vecchio, the inspiration for the interiors of this 15-room hotel comes from its surroundings. Awardwinning French architect Jean-François Bodin has used natural materials and simple
lines to shape the silhouette of the La Plage suites, with a mix of old stones, volcanic rock and 300-year-old oak in its construction. The ambience here forces you to bring your fashion A-game. After all, Mossy might be on the sunlounger next to you. • 0033 04 9571 0230, aplagecasadelmar.fr; Suites from Dhs2,000 per night
Jo Malone London Sakura Cherry Blossom Cologne Dhs620
Dhs295 Zara Dhs26,000 Gucci
LE GUANAHANI, ST BART’S
what to pack
Dhs69 Call It Spring
Dhs1,140 Roberto Cavalli
Dhs965 Ale by Alessandra
Dhs380 Aldo
64
The distinctive French flavours, the pristine white sandy beaches, the calm aqua waters and the super stylish accommodation, the Caribbean islands are the place to be if you’re after some serious pampering. Le Guanahani is the Caribbean’s ultimate boutique hotel, with a niche of its own – for starters, it’s the only bona-fide, full-service resort on the island. This 16-acre enclave has three restaurants, two tennis courts, a fitness centre on the beach, St. Bart’s largest spa – with two butler-serviced wellness suites for those who want Rihanna levels of treatment – a Frédéric
Fekkai hair salon and a pool with water purified by ions rather than chlorine. No other resort on the island comes even close to offering a menu like this. Its candy-coloured bungalows, set against dark timber floors, crisp white walls and wicker ceilings, spill down to the arrowhead peninsula. All suites boast a wide selection of Clarins skincare and bath products, giving you all the more reason to have those long
showers. This Caribbean island isn’t the kind where you’d find models-of-the-moment strutting around in the latest Cruise collections. This secluded spot on the northernmost tip of the island is for those invisible, low-key getaways that make you want to leave sand between your toes and your hair unbrushed. • 00 590 590 52 90 00, leguanahani. com; Rooms from Dhs2,495 for one night
Words: Shitika Anand Photos: Getty Images, Splash News, Supplied
RIHANNA
