NEAR+FAR Volume I: Welcome to Near+Far by Near+Far

TRANSFORM YOUR SUMMER INTO A MESMERIZING MONSOON EXPERIENCE.

Immersing yourself in the magical rain known as ‘Khareef’ in southern Oman. Beat the summer heat, swap your sun hats for rain jackets as you embark on an unforgettable journey to Salalah, the coastal paradise of southern Oman. Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is the must-visit Khareef hotspot for travellers seeking a truly unique Middle Eastern adventure. Whether you’re planning a romantic escape, a family retreat, or a solo expedition, our luxurious resort ofers the perfect setting to indulge in the wonders of Khareef. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty and infused with traditional Omani hospitality, it’s the ideal destination to create everlasting memories during this magical season.

Get ready to embrace the rain

June - September

LIFE IS A JOURNEY. Visit anantara.com

NEAR+FAR

BRINGING THE WORLD TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THE MIDDLE EAST TO THE WORLD

I was sailing down the Nile...

on a cruise from Luxor to Aswan this month when I was genuinely stopped in my tracks by the beauty: lush riverside banks with clusters of palms, but just a few hundred metres behind, golden dunes and mountains. In Aswan, our terminus, I was stopped again – this time by my view from our balcony at the iconic Old Cataract hotel. It was like a painting: a vista of ancient temple ruins, the famous waterway with feluccas gliding past and the same soaring dunes topped by spectral mausoleums. This view sums up the Middle East, a destination I’m so proud to call home. It manages to wonderfully encompass deserts, oceans, beaches, rivers, mountains, thriving and futuristic cities and some of the world’s best hotels – all while looking to the future, but not forgetting the past. In Near+Far, we hope to bring this magic to the world, but also inspire residents to get out and explore beyond our borders.

I’m delighted to introduce the debut issue of Near+Far, the region’s newest independent travel magazine, bringing the world to the Middle East, and the Middle East to the world. Through photography, personal stories, tips and more, we spotlight what’s actually good and worth doing, not just new and exciting – both near, and far. We spend our days with our heads in tiny screens, so Near+Far’s print is the antithesis: large and all-consuming, tangible and a temporary distractor from the digital world. In our debut issue, we see some of the most beautiful images of the Middle East and Northern Africa, captured by world-leading photographers, but also explore more complex corners (on page 32, we meet the man trying to change perceptions of travel to Afghanistan). We look at the hotels embodying the meaning of hospitality, from a wellness-focused high rise to a historic property amid a shake-up –and the people making it all happen. The demand for private rentals is also soaring, so on page 88 we bring you (possibly) the world’s chicest private rental service, which o ers up the eclectic homes of collectors, photographers, magazine editors and more. Sadly, our region is also facing troubles that we cannot ignore. On page 16, we meet the Palestinian creators at home and in the diaspora who are preserving their heritage and rejecting oppression through the arts. Welcome to the world of Near+Far; we hope you enjoy it.

ISABELLA CRADDOCK, FOUNDER + EDITOR

On the cover

Al Moudira Hotel in Luxor, Egypt, an antiquey pink palace founded by Lebanese hotelier, Zeina Abou Kheir. Also featured on the back cover. Shot by Mark Anthony Fox

FOUNDER+EDITOR Isabella Craddock

ART DIRECTOR Leanne Botha

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS + PHOTOGRAPHERS

Athwifa Saleem, Kerryn Fischer/Frank Features, Mark Anthony Fox, Oliver Pilcher

GET IN TOUCH

EDITORIAL: isabella@nearfarmag.com

ADVERTISING: advertising@nearfarmag.com

Elephantine Island, Philae Temple, Aswan; Karnak Temple, Luxor; sailing on a felucca in Aswan, the Giza Necropolis, Cairo; Soﬁtel Legend Old Cataract Aswan

OUR BEAUTIFUL HOME

From serene desert expanses to coastal regions teeming with ﬂora and fauna, the many wonders of Middle East and Northern Africa are celebrated in Assouline’s captivating travel series. Come with us on a journey through their most evocative photography of our beloved region, from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to Morocco and Qatar

LUIGI SCOTTI, SAYAF ALSHAHRANI, SHUGA PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography by OLIVER PILCHER, ALINE COQUELLE, AMEEN QAISARAN, IBRAHIM SARHAN, LAZIZ HAMANI, KLEINJAN GROENEWALD, FRANCESCO

‘But this is still the Everest of the Empty Quarter, the sky as innocent in its emptiness as the vivid

Previous page, from left: the art of crafting carpets in Morocco’s

This page: photograph of the Empty Quarter and the views were sensational, the air hot and clear, panorama of desert wasteland brushed with sunset pink’

Atlas Mountains; the Red Sea’s Umluj beach

SSpanning three continents, the Middle East and Northern Africa comprises some 500 million residents – stretching from Morocco in the west to Iran in the east. A landscape of rich culture and topography, where oceans, sprawling deserts and mountain ranges jostle next to futurist cities and historic structures. This beautiful landscape has been immortalised in Assouline’s Middle East and Northern Africa travel series, a spectacular ode to the region with topically focused books shining a light on people, places and traditions. Here, we round up the best photographs from these tomes – moments from MENA captured by world-renowned talented photographers

Assouline’s Saudi Arabia travel series, in particular, opens many eyes – shining a light onto the ‘ﬁnal frontier’ of global travel. The series uncovers its coastlines, cities and even mountain tribes, and in the Red Sea: The Saudi Coast, it explores this melting pot of civilisations, faiths and hopes – bordering the coastlines of eight countries. With unique coral reefs and diverse underwater life, the untouched nature and biodiversity thrive in the aquatic environment and the Red Sea is imbued with a spirit of adventure.

Further inland, in the high plateau of the Asir Province, the most mountainous region of Saudi Arabia, one of the greatest and bestkept secrets of Arab civilisation lay hidden for centuries: the tribe of the Flower Men – so dubbed because it was their custom to wear garlands of ﬂowers in their hair. This book honours the tribe’s past and presents with captivating photography by Laziz Hamani, Ibrahim Sarhan and Ziyad Alarfaj.

‘AlUla is a museum. Every wadi and escarpment, every stretch of sand and rocky outline, every geological and archaeological

from

Clockwise

top: the pool at Habitas AlUla; the ‘Flower Men’ of Saudi Arabia’s Asir Province; citrus fruits in Merzouga, Morocco

FLOWER

DATES

Clockwise from left: Saudi date harvester climbing a palm tree; enjoying a cup of coffee in a café in Saudi Arabia; over 400 varieties of dates are grown in Saudi Arabia

COFFEE

site, deserves the greatest consideration,’ wrote French architect Jean Nouvel on the ancient Nabetean capital, the topic of AlUla Ever. Here, a new dawn is breaking, with luxury resorts cropping up next to ancient tombs, the world’s largest mirrored concert hall blends with the tawny desert and boutique hotels sit next to abandoned mudbrick buildings. Of course, Saudi wouldn’t be without its food, Saudi Dates: A Portrait of the Sacred Fruit explores the many facets of this vital fruit and its unique beauty, including the power of the date palm, with original photography by Oliver Pilcher and illustrations by Rafael Alterio. Saudi Co ee: The Culture of Hospitality uncovers the symbol of national identity and pride. A stark contrast to the lush wadis of date palms are the Middle East’s deserts, and none are harsher than the Empty Quarter. Known as the Ar-Rub Al-Khali, it stretches over 12,000 kilometres wide from east to west, across the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The desert that unfolds is a silent expanse and extraordinarily diverse, and in The Mysterious Desert of The Empty Quarter, original drawings appear alongside photography by Sayaf Alshahrani and Ibrahim Sarhan, capturing the immensity and profound nature of the distinct landscape. Far west, the North African countries of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco are closely twinned with the Arab states, and people

come to Morocco in search of a profound experience, be it a country, a kingdom, or a question. It captivates like a dervish dance, its authenticity endless and miraculous. Morocco, Kingdom of Light, takes readers through this enchanting land, with Oliver Pilcher’s exclusive imagery showcasing its beauty and joyous spirit.

Back to the GCC, the series delves into the tiny state of Qatar, which was propelled onto the global stage in 2022 by hosting the world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup. This was typical of Qatar’s gleaming vision for its future – its capital Doha is an outdoor art and architecture museum with structures by the world’s leading architects, including IM Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art and Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar, and public pieces by Je Koons, Damien Hirst and more.

The series wouldn’t be complete without a love letter to the pioneering spirit of Dubai, the international port city and desert oasis and now one of the region’s most important metropolises. With humble beginnings in the industries of pearl diving, ﬁshing and trade, Dubai has since eclipsed its historic origins. Its feats are known worldwide; the ginormous Dubai Mall, ‘seven star’ Burj Al Arab hotel and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Dubai Wonder tours readers through this storied city, its cultural diversity and its distinct neighbourhoods, with collective imagery and words by Myrna Ayad.

‘Morocco is a place where a piece of your soul remains forever’

Clockwise from top: Moroccan actress Soumaya Akaaboune with her fans; a classic car pictured on The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; illustration of an Empty Quarter woman wearing head cover by Ruben Alterio; artist Zeid Jaouni photographed in Dubai’s Al Satwa

From left: Moroccan championship surfer Maryam El Gardoum surfs the ocean waves of Taghazout; an intricate mosaic of hand-painted tiles adorns the exterior of the Katara Mosque in Doha

From Palestine WITH ART

Palestinian artists and creators at home and in the diaspora are spotlighting their rich culture and identity with global art showcases and talked-about collaborations

One artist won’t be responding, as their house is under a demolition order,’ reads our correspondence with Faisal Saleh, the Palestine Museum US’ executive director – a stark reminder of the dire situation in our region. The artists were partaking in the Palestine Museum US’ acclaimed exhibition ‘From Palestine with Art’, which took place at London’s renowned P21 Gallery earlier this year, and before it, as a Collateral Event at the 2022 Venice Biennale Arte. O ering a unique view into the Palestinian experience, the exhibition features a range of captivating artistic mediums from Palestinians in Palestine itself and the diaspora, showcasing a multifaceted tapestry of Palestinian culture, heritage, and struggles through diverse artistic expressions.

The exhibition was one of many current artistic displays drawing attention to the rich culture of Palestine and its people, which some would say is at risk of being lost. From Palestine with Art features paintings, sculptures, photography, and installations and resonates with the vibrant spirit of Palestinian culture while also reﬂecting the complexities of ongoing social and political realities.

Among the featured artists was Sana Farah Bishara, a celebrated bronze sculptor Bishara employs the human body as a powerful metaphor to convey the intricate tapestry of Palestinian women’s experiences. In her artistic journey, she transforms the human form into a rich symbol, embodying the complexities of identity. ‘In my artistic journey, the human body in my sculptures becomes a metaphor, embodying the intricate tapestry of Palestinian women’s lives,’ she says. ‘To me, sculpture is not just a form of expression but a personal wrestling ground –navigating my identity as a person, woman, mother, Arab, and Palestinian in a complex reality.

‘Initially, I created realistic sculptures, but as my work progressed, I began deconstructing, breaking, and cutting, allowing the ﬁgure to disintegrate into pieces ready to be moved and reassembled. The modular woman’s body in my works symbolises the complexity of a woman’s life,

Clockwise from left: Hanan Awad, Faces of Resilience 1, digital photo print; Nabil Anani, In Pursuit of Utopia, acrylic on canvas; Mohammed Alhaj, Immigration acrylic on canvas

torn between work, aspirations, family, and soul. The sculptural disassembly and separation metaphorically depict the individual separated from native landscape, leading to a fractured soul with multiple identities. In my family history, many were forced to move from their lands after the Nakba, so the social fabric and personal identity were riven and restive.

‘To celebrate the beauty and resilience of Palestine through my sculptures, I exhibit them globally, inviting people to closely observe and encouraging a deeper understanding,’ continues Bishara. ‘The dynamic fragments within the figures allow for constant reconfiguration, symbolising the ever-changing positions of these women. The dynamism is further amplified through the viewer’s imagination.’

Her sculptures sat beside works from portrait artist Jacqueline Bejani, who, using the colours of the Palestinian ﬂag as her palette, skillfully weaved together portraits of exceptional Palestinian individuals, creating a collective tapestry titled ‘The Flag’. Bejani’s work sheds light on the ongoing struggle for recognition and justice faced by Palestinians, which, despite the prevalence of social media, many remain unaware of its true complexities. Through her art, Bejani strives to bridge this gap, countering misconceptions and illuminating the human stories behind the headlines. Other works include pieces from Ghassan Abu Laba, a Jordanian artist whose paintings capture the visual essence of Palestine and its people.

‘Palestinian culture and history in my paintings involve a thoughtful combination of symbolism, colour and narrative,’ explains Abu Laban. ‘Inserting the Palestinian ﬂag colours as an abstract symbol of identity and resistance in cultural symbols, motifs, and iconic elements helps to convey a sense of Palestinian identity.’

‘These exhibitions vividly portray the Palestinian longing for a secure homeland amidst ongoing injustices,’ reveals exhibition curator Saleh. ‘Through art, Palestinian artists deﬁantly reject boundaries and oppression, celebrating

Clockwise from top left: Sana Farah Bishara’s Woman in All Her Moods; Nöl Collective merchandise at Coachella; Ghassan Abu Laban, Jidar, oil on canvas; Nameer Qassim, Enough , acrylic on canvas

the natural beauty of Palestine and the unyielding spirit of its people. With compelling depictions of the landscape and the tribulations endured, they portray a narrative of hope and deﬁance, inviting global audiences to witness the unwavering determination and pursuit of liberty.’

Continuing the exhibition’s legacy, Palestine-based weaver Nöl Collective was selected by GV Black for its Coachella collection, highlighting their plight, but also shouting loudly of their culture and weaving traditions. Based in Ramallah in the West Bank, Nöl (loom, in Arabic) Collective was founded by Yasmeen Mjalli to produce thoughtful hand-made pieces in partnership with local family-owned businesses and women’s cooperatives. Facing unthinkable challenges and di culties, the Collective hasn’t stopped creating – and its pieces were included in this year’s GV Black edit – a curated group of Black, Indigenous, and people of colour designers available at the festival’s merchandise tent. Produced in Palestine, sweatshirts, t-shirts, caps and totes were cut and sewn in a family-run and solar-powered workshop in Beit Sahour and then screen-printed by hand in the Um al Sharayet neighbourhood of Ramallah. Art and fashion serve as a soft power reminder to the rich Palestinian culture and heritage, which must be preserved at all costs.

‘Through art, Palestinian artists defiantly reject oppression, celebrating the natural beauty of Palestine and the unyielding spirit of its people’

Culture Capital of

The diminutive state of Qatar is fostering the region’s leading cultural and creative scene, with the debut Doha Biennale and a roster of wonderful new exhibitions across the city championing Islamic art and heritage

Photography by QATAR MUSEUMS

The emblems of a great empire,

intricate Moroccan jewellery and pieces 20 years in the making are just some of the fabulous new exhibitions visitors can see this season in Doha, arguably the culture and art capital of the Middle East. Qatar’s rise from a pearling nation to a global art and design capital has been meteoric. Now one of the most dynamic destinations in the Middle East and the world, Qatar not only showcases the world’s brightest stars and most fascinating ﬁgures, but is fostering a new generation of talent and keeping Islamic heritage alive. This thriving creative scene comes directly from the top – cultivated by its art and designloving royal family, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned and her daughter, Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin

Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums and passionate arts lover and advocate. With a rumoured art

budget of USD1 billion, Qatar is a key player on the world stage, and this year, Doha debuted the ﬁrst-ever Design Doha Biennale festival – welcoming over 100 designers from the MENA region.

Art, culture and design intertwine with daily life in Doha, in its museums and exhibitions, but also in its airports and hospitals, where the likes of Je Koons, Damien Hirst and KAWS are proudly on display. The capital’s prestigious Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts trains artists, while projects like M7 (m7.org.qa) incubate and showcase both local Qatari and international talents. The state has a thriving arts and cultural calendar, primarily centred around its key monuments – the National Museum of Qatar (nmoq.org. qa), Jean Nouvel’s Desert Rose-inspired masterpiece, and Museum of Islamic Art (mia.org.qa), designed by IM Pei and on its own waterfront island, but also contemporary spaces like Firestation Gallery (ﬁrestation.org.qa) –housed in a disused ﬁre station – and M7 – a holistic epicentre for Doha’s fashion, design and tech industries.

The year that has seen the launch of the highly anticipated Doha Design Biennale could be Doha’s best cultural moment yet, and, more than ever, its roster of world-class museums and worth travelling for. Taking place in the Museum of Islamic Art until 22nd June, ‘Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran’ transports viewers to the power of the Safavid Empire (1501-1736, highlighting the significance of silk in the vibrant social, economic and artistic life of this period in modern-day Iran. The exhibition is the result of a collaboration with the Freer Gallery of Art for the QatarUSA 2021 Year of Culture and was first conceived by and presented at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, DC. Viewers can gaze upon textiles that evoke a sense of a bygone era of power and opulence – the most desirable luxury commodities traded – with four full-length portraits giving a glimpse into the diverse population and opulence characterised by the Safavid imperial capital of Isfahan. Other key pieces include a selection of specially commissioned pieces, garments and handbags created by Qatar-based designers inspired by Safavid textiles and paintings from MIA’s permanent collection. A podcast further illuminates the exhibition – shedding further light on the fashion of Safavid Iran and its elegance through tales of textiles, this magnificent golden age, and its continued impact on today’s creative practices.

Clockwise from far left: exhibits in ‘Fashioning an Empire’; the magniﬁcently embroidered cape made with golden spider silk; handbag and dress from Fashioning an Empire

Also, in the Museum of Islamic Art, ‘Golden Spider Silk’ brings spider silk creators Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley’s textiles to the city until 6th July. After over twenty years of experimentation with the material, the two first embarked on their grand project in 2004, producing and creating textiles made with spider silk. For the first time, the exhibition showcases all four finished textiles together, alongside historical manuscripts and folios documenting the process. This includes a magnificently embroidered cape, brocaded weave lamba (lamba akotifahana), sheer ta eta, and a satin weave shawl. These textiles are the only examples of golden spider silk in the world, and this is the first time they will be displayed in the Middle East. The exhibition will also feature a 15-minute video of Simon Peers discussing the history of golden spider silk.

The season, the MIA has transformed into a treasure trove, beyond its usual prestigious arsenal of 1,100 collections. Elsewhere, the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture was o cially integrated at the MIA with the opening of the Berber Jewelry Collection from the Royal Palace exhibition. The beguiling exhibit features more than 200 historical and culturally signiﬁcant pieces from Morocco’s Oudayas, National Museum of Adornment in Rabat, representing the diverse regions of Morocco, from the Atlas Mountains to the southern provinces. The ﬁrst showcase outside of the Kingdom, the must-visit exhibition pays homage to the artisans who meticulously crafted these treasures and honours, in particular, the women who have safeguarded these traditions. Visitors can see demonstrated artistry in wirework, inlaying, and the use of coral, amber, glass, beads and coins. More than 80 events including exhibitions, exchanges, and other programs, are planned throughout the year in both Morocco and Qatar as part of the pioneering programme, with the exhibition running until 20th May 2024. qm.org.qa

Clockwise from top: intricate Moroccan jewellery; installation views from the Pipilotti Rist exhibition

‘Electric Idyll’ at the Fire Station, Garage Gallery, also running until 1st June

NEW HEIGHTS

Rixos’ gleaming new Abu Dhabi hotel can be seen across the capital – transcending the city experience by showcasing the very best of the capital, its surroundings and Turkish hospitality

One hotel is cutting an enticing new ﬁgure on the Abu Dhabi skyline – soaring above the iconic landscape with views over the Arabian Gulf and the Mangroves: Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi. The hotel is cementing itself as the go-to destination for a modern Abu Dhabi escape, encapsulating the city’s wonders in a building as impressive as the capital itself. A new iconic landmark fusing sophisticated and modern aquatic design with Arabesque architecture, Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi invites guests to explore the seafaring origins of the thriving cosmopolitan city while being close to all the action.

Standing tall on the corniche, Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi sets a new standard for the brand’s presence in the UAE –comprising 563 spacious guest rooms and suites with luxurious amenities. From its position on its own exclusive island, surrounded by new upscale residential communities and retail, it creates its own luxurious world, allowing guests to never leave the site, if they do so choose.

Guests at Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi can experience the world-famous hotel brand’s famed Turkish hospitality, its stunning Turkish-inspired wellness facilities and , what Rixos is most loved for, its impressive range of dining destinations. Gastronomic adventures are plentiful, with freedom and

flexibility to enjoy all cuisines and a range of inclusive packages. From room only to bed and breakfast and half-board meal plans, each stay at Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi is refreshingly flexible – leaving each traveller to get as much from their Abu Dhabi beach and city escape as possible. Dining highlights include Turquoise, People’s, Infinity Lounge, Terra Mare, The Bakery Club and Anti-Dote Bar, with a shiny new addition on the horizon for the summer.

Adults can unwind in the exclusive Naturelife Spa, a Turkish-inspired sanctuary with a hammam and opulent facilities like a steam room, sauna and ice fountain, plus a women’s salon and barber to make guests feel and look their best. While luxuriating, children can enjoy the famed Rixy Kids Club, with its edutainment activities, or enjoy exclusive sports on land and sea. The whole family can come together to enjoy the hotel’s vibrant entertainment, capturing the essence of the Rixos brand. Round-the-clock live entertainment, enriching masterclasses for guests, water activities and four luxurious pools keep guests engaged and delighted. For a stay in Abu Dhabi that’s both luxurious and adventurous, gastronomic and wellness-oriented, there’s nothing like Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi For more information, visit rixos.com, @rixosmarinaabudhabi, + 971 249 80000

THE FOR

QUEST

Hotels and travel destinations are now bridging the topic of longevity, helping guests increase lifespan with highly targeted and scientiﬁc treatments in the most luxurious of settings

LONGEVITY

TThere was a time when a hotel spa o ered just massages and facials, relaxing therapies to brighten, tighten and destress. But now, hotels, and hotel spas, in particular, are retreats in themselves, moving away from skin-deep therapies to a new advanced focus on longevity and increasing lifespan, o ering treatments that were once the preserve of doctors’ o ces and specialised medical clinics.

At Dubai’s new One&Only One Za’abeel, the Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie is bringing the pioneering technology of its Switzerland mothership to the UAE for the very ﬁrst time. Guests can book a ‘Longevity Assessment’, a 40-minute process involving questionnaires and scans revealing a score based on energy, beauty, immunity and more. From here, a treatment plan is devised – be it during the guest’s hotel stay or a lengthier plan for Dubai residents. Following a diagnosis of, say, low energy or beauty, a factor linked to stress, lack of sleep and dehydration, treatments like cryotherapy, infrared saunas, IV drips and a crystal massages are recommended – penetrating the muscles with healing stones.

Clinique La Prairie has long pioneered preventative healthcare, stemming from its clinics in Switzerland and across the globe. Treatments and services o ered at the hub in Dubai include Longevity therapies such as neurowave stimulation, cryotherapy, far infrared and IV drips. The hub also focuses on aesthetics and wellbeing, with treatments and therapies including mesotherapy, hyaluronic acid, botox, laser treatments, micro-needling, lymphatic face drainage, massages and more.

‘The pandemic has made us well and truly prioritise health. Perhaps unsurprisingly, our research shows that, as a result, 92 per cent of people are now consciously taking better care of their health,’ says Clinique La Prairie CEO, Simone Gibertoni on the move into a new era of luxury and wellness. ‘Our Longevity Hubs are dedicated to unlocking lasting vitality thanks to its unique tailored approach that combines the latest in transformative health science and cutting-edge aesthetics. There is a demand for more personalised, more meaningful and all-encompassing preventive healthcare. Not only that but there is a need for an approach that allows us to follow clients “along their health journey” – not just for spot programmes.’

Dubai’s Clinique La Prairie is the second in the region, following the opening of the Doha Longevity Hub at The St Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar, in August 2023. The same treatments around longevity, aesthetics, and wellbeing with the same membership structure.

Other regional hotels are following suit – Fairmont Doha launched the world-leading Fairmont Fit with a Pillar Membership Program in 2022, and the soon-to-be-opened Sha Emirates will have 10,000 square metres of clinic area.

Many treatments at Clinique La Prairie’s Longevity Hub speciﬁcally focus on brain health and AI-driven medicine – two trends Gibertoni reveals are shaping the future of longevity. ‘It has emerged as a growing trend due to increased awareness that the brain is interconnected with many other factors in bodily health,’ says the CEO. ‘This is also linked with mental health concerns and growing numbers of age-related cognitive.’

With this in mind, Clinique La Prairie has just launched a new programme, ‘Brain Potential’ – focusing on optimising brain functions and enhancing cognitive health. ‘The second trend considers an individual’s genetic makeup, medical history, lifestyle and environmental factors to form a treatment plan, the Clinique La Prairie CEO explains. ‘Artiﬁcial intelligence can add a highly interesting layer for our physicians to tailor prevention strategies to a guest’s speciﬁc needs,’ he adds. Still under wraps, the Clinique La Prairie team is also working on an assessment powered by AI, but for now, it uses an epigenetic evaluation in collaboration with Genknowme – a life science company specialising in analysing the e ects of lifestyle on biological age and how these processes are closely linked with the reversible e ects of our daily choices on genes.

Other treatments at the Dubai Longevity Hub include AudioVitality®, a unique, innovative technology that involves exposure to low-frequency, continuous stimulation in a sound-proofed environment. Producing physical, biological, neural and mental systemic stimulations that a ect health, wellbeing, performance, and ageing, the treatment stimulates the body’s natural capacity to heal.

Just across the towering structure, a new wellnessfocused hotel, Siro One Za’abeel, is taking this approach to new levels – where the hotel itself centres around ﬁtness and wellness spaces. There’s a sprawling gym, studios, and recovery lab – where treatments include the MLX i3Dome Detox concept (an MRI-like machine focused on detoxiﬁcation from the inside out), dry needling, electro-muscle stimulation and IV therapy. The quest for longevity is nothing new, but the surge in advanced clinics in beautiful destinations makes it that much easier, something we’re sure to see more locations embrace.

Clockwise from top left: Dubai Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie’s wellness suite, ice bath; Siro One Za’abeel’s MLX i3Dome Detox

BEYOND THE BEDROOM

From in-house boutiques selling just what you want to be wearing, to skincare products, homeware and even interior design services, these hotels are more than a place to bed down, but lifestyle brands in their own right

Any luxury traveller knows that a hotel is so much more than a place to rest your head. It’s a place to live out your design fantasies – be it a grand Italian palazzo on the shores of Lake Como, a tropical modernist resort in the jungle, or an aristocratic Scottish Highlands retreat – and temporarily step into another world, and with it, another character. Recognising guests’ growing desire for total immersion and bringing a piece back home, more and more hotel brands are evolving into 360-degree offerings. Remember that Four Seasons bed? You can now buy the mattress. That distinctive fragrance or room scent? It’s in the lobby shop. Hotel brands are shifting, and these glamorous global properties are at the forefront.

SENSE OF LAKE

FOR ITALIAN GLAMOUR

It’s hard to imagine a more sumptuous spot than Lake Como’s Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua –the latter, ofﬁcially The World’s Best Hotel. A slice of this inimitable Italian summer lifestyle is now available to take away, with the launch of a new online lifestyle boutique, Sense of the Lake. Split across nine shippable sections, the collection has been created by owner Valentina De Santis and her mother in collaboration with 30 Italian designers such as Brics Milano, F.R.S For Restless Sleepers (famed for their silk pyjamas and robes), interiors house Bottega Conticelli, eyewear artisans L.G.R and independent, Rome-based brand Chez Dédé. The lineup was chosen to celebrate the best in Italian craftsmanship and tradition while highlighting the unique beauty of the De Santis’ Como hotels. Coming soon: a stunning new swim and resort collection with Emilia Wickstead. senseoﬂake.com

PALM HEIGHTS

FOR COLOURFUL PIECES + SILK PYJAMAS

Fashion’s favourite tropical boutique hotel, Palm Heights Grand Cayman, is a staple on jet setters’ Instagram feeds, home to 52 suites facing the white sands of Seven Mile Beach, a collection of 20 thcentury furniture, including pieces from Marcel Breuer and Ettore Sottsass and a new concept store named Dolores. Showcasing Caribbean diaspora designers, guests can shop Diotima web crochet dresses, Isa Boulder ruched bikinis, Port Tanger oversize sunglasses, and more – a particular favourite is the silk pieces – scarves embossed, vintage terrycloth pieces and pattered pyjamas –perfect for snapping photos on the beach and by the palm-fringed pool. The hotel literature to connect with its guests, offering a 2,000-strong library of books and magazines, available to purchase and take home. palmheights.store

SOHO HOUSE FOR HOMEWARE AND SKINCARE

Known for its cool members’ clubs, in-the-know social scene and design-led hotels, Soho House is indeed a household name, and with so many inﬂuential and stylish members admiring its famous interiors and products, it made sense for the brand to dabble in lifestyle offerings. Soho Home is now a huge success, bringing that coveted Soho House feel to your house (Meghan Markle even has its Country House range). Items include scented candles and coffee table books through to boucle armchairs and coffee tables. The brand also extends into Soho Skin, a range of skincare products designed to address the effects of modern living on the skin. Spanning cleansers, serums, moisturisers, and even a travel-sized hangover cure, the range is formulated with high-quality ingredients and packaged with a sleek and minimalist design. Soho House members can purchase Soho Skin products at a discount. sohohome.com, sohoskin.com

AMAN INTERIORS + ESSENTIALS

FOR JAPANDI DESIGN AND QUIET LUXURY

Aman is the ‘if you know, you know’, of hotel brands, and its interiors arm, skincare range and loungewear collection are just the same. With such a strong following from the world’s elite (or ‘Aman Junkies’, as they call them), the brand launched Aman Interiors this year, transforming guests’ homes into mini Aman hotels with an edit of furniture pieces straight from its exquisite properties. What’s more, Aman has also transitioned into an immersive lifestyle brand with Aman Essentials – a range of deliciously smelling products which instantly transport you to an Aman Spa – and a range of accessories like towelling cotton beach bags, cashmere caps and pashminas, yoga mags, yoga gear and more. You don’t have to check into an Aman hotel and can purchase online, with global shipping. shop.aman.com

FIRMDALE HOTELS FOR CHARMING HERITAGE DESIGNS

Whimsical, homely and a kaleidoscope of pattern and colour is how one would describe Firmdale Hotels’ signature aesthetic, the boutique luxury brand with eight properties – largely townhouse and mews hideaways – in London and New York City. Offering this signature vibe for your own home, founder and creative director Kit Kemp has her own shoppable brand – available on the Firmdale website and a digital rabbit warren spanning dining and entertainment, bath and body, toys, sleeping accessories, homeware mannequins, rugs, stationary, gifts and more. But what truly makes the service special is the bespoke furniture, made to order, offering a unique opportunity to quite literally transform your home into London’s Charlotte Street Hotel, or NYC’s The Whitby. ﬁrmdalehotels.com/shop-kit-kemp

THE FIFE ARMS FOR COUNTRYSIDE CHIC

The Fife Arms is the ultimate Scottish countryside retreat – a historic public house turned boutique art hotel and a gallery with fantastical, exquisitely charming rooms. And not just any art – but art from famed Swiss gallerists Hauser & Wirth (the hotel is operated by their hospitality arm, Artfarm). Set in the lovely town of Braemar, the home of the Highland Games, and with a restaurant in nearby Ballater, a hit with the British royals when visiting Balmoral, staying at The Fife Arms immerses you in a glamourous Highlands fantasy. There’s a wonderful boutique in the lobby, which has now expanded online – and enthusiasts can deck themselves out in The Fife Arms’ signature blue and green tartan and take home Albamhor heather bath products (stocked in each of its eclectic rooms) and hip ﬂasks, through to hampers, dog accessories and more – all encapsulating a dreamy Highlands lifestyle. shop.theﬁfearms.com

THE PAST and the PRES ENT

Interview by ISABELLA CRADDOCK

Photography by JOE SHEFFER/SAFARAT

Hoping to shine a light on the beauty of Afghanistan, one British journalist has launched tours around the complex nation, showcasing its most impressive sights and offering insight into its people

AAfghanistan is a deeply complex country, marred by years of conﬂict and unrest, and for many of us, a place we’d never thought to step foot in. But in the Seventies, the country, and its capital Kabul, was a key stop on the ‘hippie trail’, and still today, it’s home to some of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes – including the Band-e-Amir National Park and what’s left of the Buddhas of Bamiyan – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former holy site on the Silk Road. Hoping to change people’s perceptions of the country’s landscape and its everyday people is British photojournalist Joe She er, who founded Safarāt Travel in 2021, shortly after the fall of Kabul. Safarāt aims to help Afghan people tell their stories, earn a livelihood and educate travellers about this complex and troubled, but still beautiful country. Safarāt goes beyond the headlines of the regime and its brutality to an Afghanistan that often gets left behind. Afghans are keen to work and showcase their country, its food, history and landscapes, and Safarāt allows a glimpse into this, from its three-night Long Weekender trip to two-week deep dives into the Pashtun heartlands. Trips include airport pick-ups and homestays, giving work to local people, and simultaneously showcase the country’s beauty but also highlight its troubles, creating a unique and immersive way of travelling. Women, too, are welcome, and solo female travellers have embarked on She er’s tours thanks to the processes put in place by his team. We sat down with She er to discuss his venture, its challenges, and why, so he says, there’s never been a safer time to visit Afghanistan.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO SHOWCASE AFGHANISTAN IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT?

I’ve reported on Afghanistan for over a decade and ﬁrst visited in 2012. I’ve always loved Afghanistan and been fascinated with it. I studied the country at university and always wanted to get into the interior, which was always

very di cult. As a journalist, I spent a long time embedded with coalition forces in Afghanistan. Still, I never felt the majority of us could speak to Afghans without the menace of soldiers around, so I wanted to travel deeper, speak to them and hear their stories. When Kabul fell, a huge number of international organisations pulled out of the country. So many people specialising in Afghanistan were left unemployed. The economic situation was awful, so, along with a former ﬁxer who I knew and worked with, we decided to try and tell Afghanistan’s story di erently. I decided to start Safarāt to give people an inside view of the country. We encourage people to think of themselves as part of a documentary and to hear Afghanistan’s stories from Afghans.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN RECEIVED BY THE TRAVEL COMMUNITY? HAS THERE BEEN ANY BACKLASH?

It is a tricky one, and there are many ethical questions with travelling in Afghanistan right now. Obviously, the Taliban is not an internationally recognised government, and we deﬁnitely legitimise them by visiting and putting dollars into the regime. So there’s been a little bit of criticism, but as far as I’m concerned, we’re doing more good than harm in Afghanistan; we’re not just greenwashing the regime. Many Afghans have come to me and said, ‘we’d be delighted to showcase the country, but please tell the truth, there are still problems in our country’. The regime in Kabul is a ﬂawed one, and please tell the truth and don’t use your white privilege to travel where you want, because for normal people, it’s hard. We include homestays and visits to local villages as part of your tours.

CAN THIS TYPE OF TOURISM BENEFIT THE AFGHAN PEOPLE?

It’s very common in Afghanistan for a single person to be the breadwinner for 20, 30, 40 people. So by putting a fair salary into a family, particularly in a rural area, either through a homestay or even for a few days mountain guiding, we can massively improve lives for those families there. For example, we have homestay, and they’re potato farmers, and an entire year’s salary is about USD1,000 – so by coming in for a single night with a group, we’re able to increase their annual salary by 10, 15, 20 per cent for just a single night. We have to be careful, of course, not to create tension in villages and not put everyone in just one village, but this is what we call our ‘conﬂict-sensitive approach’. Afghans are proud; they don’t want handouts, they want to work and do jobs they feel proud of and that are legitimate. The situation for Afghan women is, of course, terrible, but the men feel like they want to provide for their families, and they’re delighted and very keen to interact with foreigners.

Clockwise from above: Afghan crafts are being supported by global organisations; an Afghan boy smiles; a Safarāt tour group in the Bamiyan Valley

‘The

legacy of the

hippie

trail is

still

evident in Kabul on Chicken Street. Tourists used to flock to it in the Sixties and Seventies before the Civil War and there are beautiful things to buy – glassblowing, nuristani carving, traditional woodwork lattice, gemstones’

From left: homestays include meals with local Afghan people; the remains of the Giant Buddhas of Bamiyan

Previous page: a young Afghan girl stands by the Buddhas of Bamiyan

YOU OPENLY SAY LIFE FOR WOMEN IS TERRIBLE. BUT IS THERE A WAY THIS CAN HELP WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN?

Hospitality is one of the few places where women can actually be employed, and because we have female visitors, then we need to employ females to be with our guests because of segregation. I’m not going to dress it up, the situation of Afghan women is appalling. It’s a source of international outrage, but at the same time, Afghans can’t be punished for the regime’s behaviour.

DO YOU HAVE WOMEN TRAVELLERS? CAN THEY PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE EXCURSIONS MEN CAN?

It’s a big subject. As a traveller and, particularly, a Western traveller, you’re held to completely di erent standards to Afghan women. And I don’t think that the treatment of our male guests to our female guests is really any di erent. As a foreign woman, you get a pass to enter national parks and monuments. So, generally speaking, you’re going to get to do everything. Our female colleagues are required to wear a hijab as a minimum, but many of our customers feel happier wearing an abaya.

YOU’VE SAID THAT AFGHANISTAN IS MUCH SAFER UNDER THE TALIBAN REGIME. HOW CAN THIS BE TRUE?

I don’t think there’s been a safer time to visit Afghanistan since 1979, as most insurrections were caused by the Taliban, but that’s not to say there aren’t storm clouds on the horizon. Afghanistan is still reeling after 40 years of war, so we need to tread carefully. There are challenges,

but the security situation has improved massively. The atmosphere on the street is good, people are generally very happy to see foreigners, they’re very proud and want to come and visit Afghanistan, which is great. Generally speaking, people are delighted, even in the Pashtun South to see you. They want to meet and talk to you.

WHAT IS A PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE TOURS FOR YOU?

So many things we do and show you will tell you more than one story. One is a wall walk, an incredible ancient wall which dissects the mountain that splits Kabul. You’ve got thousands of years’ worth of history; we tend to actually walk up with the Taliban. But you really see the last 30 years of Afghanistan: we see slums, we see evidence of the Bala Hisar, which was the site of the start of the ﬁrst Anglo-Afghan war. We see thousands of years of history but also modern politics, and you get recent history, modern history and current issues all in one hike. It’s stunning and beautiful at the same time, but we’re talking about social issues. You would do this on our Afghan Weekender trip from Abu Dhabi.

From far left: wild camping beneath starry skies; Buddha heads at The National Museum of Afghanistan; pleasure boats on Band-e Amir national park’s striking blue lake

Remains of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Bamiyan Valley – destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001

TELL US ABOUT AFGHANISTAN’S CREATIVE SCENE. IS THERE AN ARTISAN CULTURE?

There’s been big investment in the last 20 years from groups like the Khan Foundation and the Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Afghan craft. The legacy of the hippie trail is still evident in Kabul, it’s called Chicken Street and tourists used to ﬂock to it in the Sixties and Seventies before the Civil War, and there are beautiful things to buy. A lot of that has been regenerated over the years, particularly traditional glassblowing nuristani carving, traditional woodwork lattice work that we call ‘jalli’. I love shopping in Kabul, people love the carpets I bring back. Some of my favourite things to buy are yak hair scarves from the mountains of Badak Shan and calligraphy from the mogul period – a skill that’s taught by the Turquoise Mountain Foundation. Beyond that, there are antiquities for sale in Chicken Street and precious stones; a huge amount of the world’s precious gems come from Afghanistan – there is beautiful blue stones, there are emeralds, and rubies. There’a lot to buy.

HOW DO PEOPLE TRAVEL ON YOUR TOURS?

If you were to come on one of our weekend trips, you’d have your own vehicle, and you’d be alone with one of our guides, like Qudratullah Noory, a former ﬁxer who is extremely experienced and has worked a lot in Western NGOs and Western television. If you came up with about longer trips, you’d be within a group of eight to 12. And you would have an experienced journalist, someone like myself, and we would move together and eat together. We’re trying to read some special guests to tell you their stories. You spend most of your time with the group, but there are chances to wander o . We pick you up from the airport, take you to the sights and look after you – it’s the perfect way to see Afghanistan’s story.

TOUR AFGHANISTAN

KEY SIGHTS WITH SAFARAT

● Kabul’s old city Bazaar and bird market

● Hike Kabul’s famous ‘wall walk’ – an ancient wall across Sher Derwaza mountain which dates to the 5th century AD

● Eat dumplings with pomegranate farmers of Kandahar’s Arghandab valley

● Wild camp at the base of the remote Minaret of Jam

● Explore the remnants of America’s longest war, against Helmand’s desert moonscape

● Explore Afghanistan’s cultural capital, Herat

● Hike the stunning landscape of Band-E-Amir National Park

BOOK YOUR TICKET

Safarāt operates tours from three to 14 nights, with prices starting at USD800 (about AED2,950). Price includes accommodation, breakfast, guides, transport, permits and visa support. Emirates and FlyDubai ﬂy direct to Kabul in three hours 20 minutes, with return fees from AED1,900. safarat.co, hello@safarat.co, @safarat.co

THE LAND OF ETERNAL SUN

Spain has long captivated travellers, thanks to its heady climes, fascinating history and year-round appeal – from idyllic island beaches and lush green countryside to elegant cities and ski resorts

It’s hard to imagine a destination quite like Spain. If one were to describe the perfect year-round escape, a destination that has it all, it would most likely look like this beguiling European country. Think of Spain, and the mind instantly wanders to sun-baked summers, elegant cities like Barcelona – the beachy Catalonian metropolis intrinsically linked with Antoni Gaudí – and Madrid, the majestic seat of Spanish power and setting for heady late-night dinners in the warm evening breeze.

Elegant, passionate, beautiful and inﬂuential, few countries have left their mark on the world like Spain – dominating the Iberian Peninsula and spilling out onto both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, home of the Spanish Balearic and Canary Islands, the sun-bleached plains of Andalusia and fashion, art and design capitals. But beyond its most famous sights and outside of its peak summer months, Spain o ers a year of eternal sunshine and enticing escapades.

In Spain’s luscious green north, a far cry from the whitewashed towns of the south, the wild Atlantic Ocean keeps charming coastal and hillside towns cool, and culinary gems like San Sebastián and Santander lure with boutique hotels and Michelinstarred restaurants. Go further north into the majestic Spanish Pyrenees, and the green pastures turn to white, with ski resorts open from December to April. Spain is a country that boasts 300 days of sunshine, and even in winter, the sun illuminates the ski runs – bringing with it an infectious zest for life.

Summer starts in the south as early as April, when the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca, and the exciting southern coastline truly come alive. In these lands, travellers will ﬁnd art hub Málaga, birthplace of Pablo Picasso, sleek resort city Marbella, pulsating Seville and Valencia – home of Flamenco – and ancient port towns like Cádiz. In Granada, the rose-tinted Alhambra Palace sprawls across the citadel, once the centre of the mighty Moorish empire and today a complex of centuries-old palaces, gardens and forts. Spain’s illustrious Arab legacy is palpable here, and can be seen across Andalusia in its orchards of lemons, oranges, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, and ﬁgs – planted by Arabs – its gastronomy – a marriage of Spanish and Middle Eastern – and grand mosques, now Christian cathedrals. North Africa is just an hour away by boat...

Of course, Spain’s beloved brightest stars are unmissable. There’s Barcelona, sitting on the Mediterranean and embracing an indescribable love for life – and capital Madrid, with its buzzing restaurants and manicured boulevards hiding some of the best shopping experiences in Europe – not to mention a host of new luxury openings from elite global restaurants and hotels brands. From Madrid, day trips include visits to Medieval settlements like Toledo and Segovia, home to fairytale castles and cobbled old towns that enchant visitors.

There’s also nowhere better for families, and Spain’s diverse destinations are home to tennis and padel camps, football clubs and myriad children’s activities to delight little ones. Spain’s appeal is growing in the GCC, and in 2023, the country experienced a record-breaking year for tourism, luring more Middle East travellers than ever before. With a more than 100 per cent increase in travellers, Saudi Arabia was particularly captivated, showcasing the regal nation’s ability to entice and delight all walks of life and o er a truly authentic yet luxurious and outstanding travel experience. With roadshows in KSA, UAE and Kuwait, more GCC travellers than ever are expected for 2024, creating a cosmopolitan and welcoming feel in the warm Ibernian nation – with world-leading hospitality a trait Spaniards pride themselves on.

Spain is a country that will stay with you long after your stay, luring you back year after year to explore something new – its mountains, ski resorts, summer camps, beaches, islands and historic Arab sites. In fact, with myriad direct ﬂights to the country’s most beautiful, popular, and undiscovered, spots from the GCC, there’s no destination quite like Spain. For more information, visit spain.info/es, @Spain

Clockwise from top: the Mediterranean resort town of Calpe, south of Valencia; Flamenco on the streets of Seville; sailing in the idyllic Balearic islands; the spectacular Alhambra Palace in Granada

GEOR GIA’S

A tenth of the price of top ski destinations, Bakuriani has emerged as the snowboarding capital for trendy Georgians in the winter and a countryside escape in the summer. One chic new design hotel is adding to its appeal

NEW STAY

Ski

Think of skiing in Georgia, and you’ll no doubt think of Gudauri – the country’s ski capital that’s seen a considerable rise in popularity in recent seasons. But southwest of the resort, not far from the capital Tbilisi, lies Bakuriani, where Georgia’s Winter Olympians have long frequented to hone their skills, and, where it is quickly becoming the region’s most under-the-radar ski destination, not to mention a bucolic summertime country escape.

Tucked away in the slopes of the Trialeti Range, in a caldera at 1,700 metres, Bakuriani has been a favourite

with Georgian skiers and snowboarders since it opened in 1932. It hosted the 2021–22 FIS Snowboard World Cup, which took place in Georgia for the ﬁrst time ever, and also hosted the World’s Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Championship in 2023. In summer, these white slopes give way to bucolic green pastures, and city dwellers seek relief from the heat with hiking and horseriding.

While indeed a favourite since its opening, Bakuriani has now ﬁrmly cemented its cool credentials with the opening of a slick new design hotel by Temur Ugulava’s uber-trendy Georgian lifestyle chain, Rooms. Sitting at the foothills of the 2,200-metre Kokhta Gora peak, on the peaceful fringes of the ski resort, Rooms Hotel Kokhta likes powerfully juxtaposed against the carpeted green – or powdery white – mountain range, crafted from rustic timber and glass and adding a poetic Brutalist feel to the peaceful landscape. The work of architect Levan Mushkudiani, the modern rustic structure sits at Kokhta-Mitarbi the convergence of ski and snowboarding runs, but also hiking and horseback trails, making it a year-round destination, as well as the ski resort’s most coveted hotel.

From the brand behind Rooms Tbilisi and Rooms Kazbegi, Rooms Kokhta comprises 95 guest rooms and muted, earthy spaces are the work of Tbilisi-based

design duo Nata Janberidze and Keti Toloraia – think rustic-modern with warm, organic shapes and locally crafted materials like reclaimed wood, stone, and clay. Designed to connect guests with the surroundings, the hotel has also coined the term ‘ﬁrstoacel’: an art object that feels archaic, futuristic, minimal and mystical as ﬁre itself.

In the lobby, highlights include a central mantle of the ﬁreplace with a beautiful mosaic designed by Tbilisi’s Rooms Studio, which displays symbols and patterns related to ancient Georgian text – anchoring the space and providing a warm, homely and cosy space to unwind. A similar chic, muted tone prevails in the guest rooms. The spaces – including double rooms and spacious suites – feature neutral washed walls, organic textures, custom-made handcrafted wooden beds and hand-carved stone basins along with terracotta tiles, encapsulating the rebirth of the archaic into the contemporary and paying homage to Georgian folklore.

Guests can enjoy bespoke wooden objects, custommade terracotta lamps, salvaged Georgian artefacts, ethnic-inspired rugs, and sculptural vases from Rooms studios’ DNA Archives piled into bookshelves in public spaces. Most of the furniture featured in the hotel is from the studio’s limited edition edit, Wild Minimalism, and these same DNA Archives collections.

Much like the luxury ski resorts of France, Switzerland and the US, a stunning health club with swimming pool brings the mountains of Bakuriani inside with ﬂoor-toceiling windows and valley views, while an open-ﬁre restaurant and seductive bar serve up contemporary

Georgian cuisine and creative cocktails. Guests can also enjoy drinks and nibbles on the terrace – o ering the same sweeping views of the ski resort and beyond.

Rooms Kokhta is open year-round and boasts ski-inski-out facilities and ski equipment rental. It is close to the resort’s ski lifts and ramps. In the ski season, typically January through March, it’s the pictureperfect landscape of Alpine mountain ranges and snowdusted forests. The resort itself is home to 23 ski routes for beginners to seasoned skiers and snowboarders, and there are three ski jumps (45, 70, 90 meters high and 1,350 meters long). In April, the snow begins to melt, and temperatures in the summer months can reach as high as 25 degrees Celsius. With snow sports out of action, there’s a chance to truly explore the local area, visiting sites like the Timotesubani Monastery, built between the 12th and 13th centuries and covered in frescoes. The nearby resort town Borjomi is also easily accessed in summer – known for its mineral waters, warm natural springs and former Romanov Palace with ornate furniture and a billiards room.

The hotel is just a 2.5-hour drive from Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi: a 3.5-hour ﬂight from the UAE operated by Flydubai and Air Arabia. Rooms start at €95 (about AED375). roomshotels.com, @rooms.hotels

The hotel has also coined the term ‘firstoacel’: an art object that feels archaic, futuristic, minimal and mystical as fire itself

THE GOLDEN CITY

The Czech Republic’s fairytale capital of Prague poses as the perfect summer European escape, but one hotel embodies its grandeur and Bohemian sophistication like no other – Andaz Prague

Prague is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, a historic metropolis brimming with rich culture and sophistication, frequented by discerning travellers and admired around the world. As the capital of the Czech Republic, or Czechia, as it’s locally called, Prague has an opus of stories to tell, stories which tumble into its gleaming boulevards and vibrant cobbled streets, hiding cafes and co ee shops and the banks of the genteel Vltava river. In Prague’s enchanting sprawl, one hotel perfectly embodies the city’s bohemian spirit, sophistication, charm, and ability to infuse heritage with modernist design – Andaz Prague.

Poised to be the new springtime and summer escape from the GCC, at just a seven-hour direct ﬂight, Andaz Prague captures all that’s wonderful about European capitals – their heritage, glamour and impeccable sense of style. Literally translating to ‘personal style’ in Hindi, design is the essence of this new hotel, paying homage to Czech folklore with its artful fusion of architectural splendour with a curated selection of modern art that echoes a commitment to intertwining Prague’s heritage with contemporary creativity, crafting an experience that transcends the ordinary.

Housed in the iconic Sugar Palace, an opulent and storied building on Senovážné Square in the heart of Prague’s historical centre, Andaz Prague delights guests with 152 luxurious rooms and 24 expansive suites ﬂooded with natural light and decorated with splendid, custom-made furniture and accessories inspired by Czech legends. In fact, the smallest rooms are a generous 28 square metres, with touches like elegant chaise longues. Lauded international design house Brime Robbins was enlisted to complete the stunning interiors, which combine Bohemian characteristics like stucco-decorated high ceilings and stand-alone tubs with state-of-the-art facilities and luxurious amenities –some suites unfold over a palatial 115 square metres.

As a new lifestyle destination for the city, Andaz Prague has cemented itself as a modern grande dame, drawing both travellers and locals with its drinking and dining pointers. ZEM Restaurant is a destination in itself, an avant-garde

Czech bistro combining the visual aesthetics of Prague’s traditional co ee houses with 1920s retro-futuristic Czech art, literature, and engineering. The cuisine is Czech with creative Japanese touches, including plentiful halal options.

In MEZ Bar, a Bohemian lounge open until 1am, good-looking locals chatter over killer cocktails and local Czech hops.

What truly makes Andaz Prague the most immersive and wonderful of European hotel stays is its unmatched location in the heart of historic Prague, a district known for its spellbinding architecture and priceless sights.

Rooms look onto historic landmarks, including the Jindřišská Věž tower, Church of St Henry and St Kunhuta, Haymarket & Grainmarket, and the Dancing Musicians Fountain. It’s a short walk from the hotel to the iconic Charles Bridge – a stunning stone structure spanning the Vltava River and the Powder Gate, one of the walled city’s original gates. Shopping is also a splendid pastime, with nearby Parizska Street presenting itself as the perfect location for the beloved GCC pastime of European summertime shopping. The elegant boulevard is lined with high-end fashion and jewellery boutiques, including Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier, to name a few.

After a day of exploring the Czech capital’s magic, its café culture, sun-dappled squares and picturesque riverside, Andaz Prague o ers a cocoon of luxury and relaxation. The property boasts a high-tech ﬁtness centre and beautiful spa, equipped with a luxurious Finnish sauna, steam bath, and relaxing treatment rooms – making Andaz Prague not only Prague’s shiniest hospitality star but also a city escape for a summer to remember. For booking details, please contact +420 227 341 234 or email reservations.prague@andaz.com

Clockwise from top: the graceful banks of the Vltava river; Andaz Prague’s gilded interiors and ornate guest rooms

Andaz Prague combines Bohemian characteristics like stuccodecorated high ceilings and standalone tubs with state-of-theart facilities and luxurious amenities

CHAS ING the SUN

A colonial icon celebrating 125 years, Cape Town’s Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, has long represented another world and time, but new leadership is bringing the property ﬁrmly into the spotlight with a global installation, new art exhibitions and jolly new persona

125 Years ago

Cape Town’s Mount Nelson Hotel opened to huge fanfare. Built to serve the First-Class passengers of the transatlantic Union Castle Shipping Line, the property had to be the best: ﬁlled with sparkling chandeliers and gilded interiors. It was the ﬁrst in Africa to provide hot and cold running water, and in its guise as the British Headquarters in the South African War, Lord Roberts Kitchener and a young Winston Churchill walked its corridors. It wasn’t until 1918, marking the end of the Great War, that the hotel was painted its now iconic pink – in turn becoming known as ‘the Pink Lady’ – and 1925, when the famed driveway was planted with towering date palms from the Canary Islands, in honour of a visit from the British Prince of Wales. In the century that followed, the hotel maintained its old-world airs and graces, luring elite travellers with its old-world décor, charming garden cottages and luscious gardens blossoming with roses – where guests sip iced tea, and Egyptian geese frolic in fountains.

However, the hotel is not resting on its laurels, and the arrival of a new managing director has marked a new era for the South African icon. This year, the property was chosen to participate in Belmond’s acclaimed MITICO programme in collaboration with Italy’s Galleria Continua. Entitled Haltes Colorées, meaning ‘colourful halt’, the installation by French conceptual artist Daniel Buren used the fountain as a base to erect three-metre pillars which alternate between mirrors and stripes.

‘The Mount Nelson is more than just a hotel, it’s a symbol of Cape Town, nestled in the heart of the city,’ shares Tiago Moraes Sarmento, the passionate managing director for Belmond, Southern Africa and hotel general manager, during the MITICO launch in the hotel’s renowned gardens. ‘It’s also a beacon of gracious hospitality on the African continent, a testament to our rich cultural heritage and warm welcome.

‘Our biggest opportunity is to continuously be relevant as we continue into the 21st century whilst still respecting

the property’s heritage,’ continues the hospitality veteran, who moved to the ‘Nellie’ from Belmond’s beachy Cap Juluca in Anguilla. ‘Post-COVID, we’ve been reinventing The Nellie while respecting history. We have been picking up on the moments and the areas and spaces that people love, then adapting them and moving them forward while still keeping the enchantment.’

Sarmento’s magic touch is already present. In the subterranean Grill Room, a dance hall in the Seventies, he’s pioneered the launch of The Red Room, a seductive new restaurant-cum-speakeasy by SA-famed Chef Liam Tomlin of Chef’s Warehouse. But what’s more impressive is the property’s newfound art immersion, cementing itself as a spot to explore and admire African art. ‘Our walls are lined with contemporary works donated by the Norval Foundation, and of course, you cannot miss the artwork in situ by France’s foremost contemporary artist, Daniel Buren, around the central focus point in the gardens,’ he continues. Buren himself ﬂew to Cape Town to complete the installation, meeting with local art ﬁgures and spending time in the property. ‘That altogether creates magic, and it creates soul, and it creates a buzz in the city,’ continues Sarmento. ‘Mixing the classic with the 21st century, while respecting history, and adding elements such as contemporary art and local fashion elements, has made the Nellie a place where creative minds of South Africa, and even now Africa, want to showcase their art and their amazing fashion creations.

From left: Daniel Buren admires his new MITICO installation around the fountain; the hotel’s main swimming pool is fringed by palms and lush vegetation

Previous page: the famous driveway lined with Canary Island palm trees

Beyond art, design, fashion, and glossy new openings, the impact and changes are seen at the grassroots level – small but instantly noticeable. ‘I love to play o the formality of things with a little quirkiness, playing with the past and our interpretation for the future,’ he reveals. Stepping away from traditional black and white, sta now wear pink jackets and dresses, and o ce sta even have pink ties – all a nod to the hotel’s precious rosy hue – its own dedicated Pantone shade. Cocktails in the famous Planet Bar, a well-known celebrity haunt, have been given a local twist, thanks to a newly planted mixology garden growing indigenous plants for ﬂavouring and garnishes.

This reinvigoration has stretched to the hotel’s experiences, which in typical Belmond fashion, include a holistic view of the city and merge property with destination. ‘Some of our more quirky new guest experiences include discovering all the wellknown (as well as lesser-known) Cape Town attractions along the Cape Peninsula in a Mount Nelson pink vintage motorbike with side-car, or in our vintage pink kombi (minibus),’ explains Sarmento. ‘The itineraries vary but could include “insider” hot spots such as Surfers Corner at Muizenberg for a surf lesson or savouring the best home-made Cape Malay delicacies in the Bo-Kaap – Cape Town’s iconic colourful houses in the shadows of Table Mountain.’

It’s clear from the hotel’s unwavering buzz that change is afoot, and while celebrating 125 years, it is looking to the future while still remaining respectful of the past. ‘We love the buzz,’ says Sarmento. ‘We want to continuously be a reference for the culinary world in Cape Town, but more than anything, we want to be the place where all people and di erent personas feel comfortable. Whoever you are, wherever walk of life you live, whatever part of the world you’re coming from, you will feel comfortable within our walls. belmond.com, @belmondmountnelsonhotel

‘The Mount Nelson is a symbol of gracious hospitality on the African continent’

Clockwise from right: the hotel’s signature pink is its own Pantone shade; local artwork on the walls; parties in the Planet Bar; feasting on local produce

AN UNFORGETTABLE ESCAPE

Set on the golden sands of Dubai’s bustling Jumeirah Beach Residence and Dubai Marina, Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection, is offering the season’s ultimate family getaway, where children stay and dine for free

In a city famed for its luxurious beach resorts, resorts home to all the amenities travellers could ever dream of, it’s hard to imagine a more perfectly positioned beach resort than Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection. Set within acres of luscious gardens and with its own private beachfront, it feels a world away from the city, but is just a short walk to two of Dubai’s most vibrant neighbourhoods – Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).

Because of this coveted location, making city exploration as easy as possible, and with warm shallow waters, Habtoor Grand Resort has become a beloved destination for family escapes. Cementing itself as the ultimate family escape, Habtoor Grand Resort has introduced an unforgettable family escape o er, perfectly timed for long weekends and summer holidays. Available until 30th September 2024, the exclusive o er invites children to stay and dine for free, allowing families to come together and create memories.

The o er allows children under 12 to enjoy complimentary accommodation and dining privileges when staying together in one of the resort’s exquisite ocean or gardenview rooms.

Each morning, guests are treated to a complimentary breakfast at the Al Dhiyafa Grand Kitchen, where families can relish sweet treats like pancake stacks, wa es, and freshly made eggs. During lunch and dinner, indulgent a airs in the resort’s myriad restaurants, many with oceanfront locations, children are able to choose from a specially curated menu when accompanied by a paying adult.

While children eat and stay for free, all families are well taken care of, with activities for both parents and adults on o er, allowing each family member to craft their own unique memories.

Children have unlimited access to the resort’s kids club – providing children with various engaging activities like children’s water slides and splash pads, and ensuring their stay is brimming with excitement and entertainment. To sweeten the experience and truly maximise precious holiday moments, a daily serving of ice cream per child is

also included in the stay – a much-loved treat amongst little ones. At the Junior Jungle Kids Club, Children can delight in arts and crafts activities and interactive games, with countless engaging activities. While their little ones are in safe hands, adults can take full advantage of the beach resort’s immaculate amenities. Top facilities include a private golden beach overlooking the Arabian Gulf and Palm Jumeirah, a serene swimming pool, and manicured tennis courts perfect for afternoon or early morning matches. Additionally, couples can sneak away to the Elixir Spa, a holistic wellness centre that heals the mind, body, and soul with Arabian-inspired treatments, not to mention a dedicated couples’ suite.

The whole family can come together for lunches and dinners, with an impressive 12 dining outlets to choose from – o ering everything from beachside cocktails to Mediterranean and traditional pub feasts. Habtoor Grand Resort’s dining outlets are the scene of many family feasts, accepting children with open arms, with loved ones coming together to create moments in a range of eateries. Luciano’s is the setting for al fresco lunches; stylish South African Grand Grill is one of the best steakhouses in the city, and a wide range of bars and pubs delight guests, from chic Polo cocktail bar to British-themed The Underground Pub. For both a serene luxury beach escape and a fun-ﬁlled experience, nowhere in Dubai is quite like Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection.

Package valid until 30th September 2024, starting price

AED 1,515++ per night. Room rate based on the best available rate on the hotel website, ensuring guests receive the most competitive pricing. +971 4 3995000, hgrs. reservation@habtoorhospitality.com, @habtoorgrandhappenings and @habtoorgrandresort

Bhutan’s doors have reopened, giving travellers the keys to the kingdom and a world of temples, forts, preserved culture and elite luxury lodges. With new direct ﬂights from Sharjah, there’s never been a better time to visit the Land of the Thunder Dragon

of

the THUN DER DRA GON

Bhutan is unlike any other – a kingdom of valleys bordering India, Nepal and China. It has never been colonised or invaded – preserving as much of the culture and old ways of life as possible

From left: Bhutanese crafts are a thriving industry; Amankora Thimpu

Previous page: the view from Amankora Paro; traditional Bhutanese dancing

Shrouded in

A captivating This is KINGDOM

MYSTERY BHUTAN

Fewer than a dozen pilots can make the landing into Paro International Airport. It’s famously dangerous, manoeuvring between a soaring valley with peaks as high as 18,000 feet onto a runway that appears moments before touchdown. Just two airlines are allowed to – Royal Bhutan Airlines and Druk Aur (meaning Dragon, in Dzongkha, the Bhutanese language). Our flight has flown in from Kathmandu on a journey that took us past Mount Everest – one of just a handful of direct routes, including a soon-to-be-launched flight from Sharjah. Bhutan is unlike any other – a kingdom of valleys bordering India, Nepal, and China. It has never been colonised or invaded and was only globally known after the 1914 publication of an account in National Geographic. Road construction only began in the Sixties, followed by television and the internet in 1999 – preserving as much of the culture and old ways of life as possible. What exists today is a country e ectively unchanged by mass tourism or development – of uniform Bhutanese houses and citizens donning national dress. Because of this charm, Bhutan soared to the top of bucket lists for anyone from backpackers to luxury travellers. And in response to this, in September 2022, emerging from two-and-a-half years of pandemic closure, Bhutan unveiled its new tourism strategy, rejecting mass tourism with a bold USD200 per person, per day, tourism fee, and with it making it a true once-in-alifetime kind of adventure.

Our landing into Paro is, of course, seamless, and it’s at the airport that our Bhutanese immersion begins. It feels like you’re arriving at a temple, white and gold, with no advertising or brand names – instead depictions of pastoral Bhutanese life and the photogenic royal family plastered on the walls – the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife Jetsun Pema are progressive, well-loved and often likened to the Kate and Wills of the Himalayas. Wheeling our bags out past models of Bhutan’s most famous sites – the Punakha Dzong (a fortress and monastery) and the Trashi Chho Dzong, where our where smiling guide, Gayley, awaits clothed in a traditional Gho. Gayley will be with us for our journey ahead: six nights, three valleys and three resorts, from the snowy caps of Thimpu to the balmy valley of Punakha and forested Paro. It’s obligatory in Bhutan to have a guide in all valleys but Thimpu and Paro, and guides act as uno cial ambassadors to the country.

Bhutan’s tourism development fee makes visiting here feel like a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, but the quality of the experience justiﬁes the cost. For such a rustic country, it may surprise you that Bhutan is home

to a shiny galaxy of five-star resorts, Six Senses, andBeyond and Como, to name a few. However, the most superlative is Aman – blending its Japandi vibe with traditional Bhutanese architecture and providing a marriage of cultural immersion and luxury. Amankora’s five lodges are gracefully dotted around Bhutan’s valleys, and visiting in a crisp January we begin in the Amankora Thimpu, making our way from Paro through a winding mountain road. Life is unhurried in Bhutan, and we pass uniform Bhutanese houses, paddy fields and prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Like mountains, prayer flags are a staple of Bhutan – coloured for the living, white for the dead, each gust blowing well wishes for all beings across the world.

Thimpu is Bhutan’s capital, a jumble of greenand red-roofed houses spread across a valley and the seat of the Bhutanese government. In the ‘royal’ pine-covered hills surrounding the city, home to royal residences, lies Amankora Thimpu –our ﬁrst stop. Inspired by traditional architecture, the hotel has sloping roofs and traditional rammed-earth walls, and on a chilly winter morning, we step inside to roaring ﬁreplaces in the open-air lounge and a steaming Kora tea – quickly becoming a ritual of the trip. Apple farming is one of the main cash crops in the country.

From left: Bhutan’s capital Thimpu sits in a green valley; the Punakha Dzong is home to hundreds of monks

Previous page, clockwise from bottom: spacious rooms boast picture windows perfect for nature gazing; Amankora Paro’s scenic grounds; the Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) monastery

The lodge creates a sense of almost eerie solitude and peace – rooms are dotted across out buildings with gusty winds and echoey stone floors. Contrary to the cool, whitewashed, flagstone corridors – rooms are warm, dark and cocooning – where picture windows look out into thick forest, Bhutanese fireplaces crackle away, and soaking tubs with almond bath oil will have you bathing multiple times a day. On a waning winter day, the soft light from the forest illuminating the spaces feels almost ethereal. Amankora manages to marry the brand’s hallmarks with Bhutanese culture delightfully, and over Kora tea, this time spiked with Bhutanese whiskey, we sit on the patio and watch traditional Bhutanese dancers. The next day, a monk regales us stories from his life before dinner. There’s also a spa and steam room, but the real treat lies ahead – the Bhutanese onsen baths.

Rooms are laid out with individually printed excursions on parchment: a visit to the local post o ce and paper factory and the Great Buddha Dordenma, one of the largest in the world. The imposing 52-metre gold structure lords above Thimpu, and inside, Monks light butter lamps and serve sweet Bhutanese tea made with condensed milk. We’re treated to a 20-minute blessing by three monks. As we depart, one scrolls on his iPhone – a dichotomy that sums up Bhutan’s delicate dance between ﬁerce tradition and globalisation.

Our time in Thimpu is fascinating and enriching; we enjoy lunch in Babesa Village Restaurant, a mudbrick restaurant o ering a glimpse into the Bhutan of the past. Surprisingly, the Bhutanese have a love a air with cheese and put it into just about anything they can. The national dish is chilli cheese (mixed chilli peppers in a creamy cheese sauce), which we enjoy with hot butter tea (suja), rice, dried beef, momo dumplings and organic vegetables like turnips, eggplants, spinach and

potatoes. ‘We’ve had chilli cheese every night for dinner,’ reveals a fellow Amankora guest, visiting the kingdom to mark a big birthday

The road between Thimpu and Punakha is a long and winding one, over the Dochula Pass, which closes temporarily due to snow. We sit it out in a mountain café, where guides chatter over momos and guests sip tea overlooking the snowy Himalayan range – which traces 300 miles of border with China. We’re told of Operation All Clear, a military operation by the Royal Bhutan Army to suppress Assam Separatist insurgence groups in southern Bhutan in 2004 – the pass is now home to 108 ‘chörten’ built in commemoration.

Amankora o ers guests a picnic between journeys, with Gayley and our similing driver taking care of all moving around. Amankora tea is always close to sight, and all travelling is done on the Amankora minibus, which has wiﬁ, reclining chairs and thick blankets.

The temperature is noticeably di erent in the Punakha valley – the balmy lowlands of rivers, rafting and birdwatching and an escape for the royal family in the colder months (reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius in summer). Amankora Punakha is housed in an historic royal-owned farmhouse with modern outbuildings overlooking the river. Lighter and brighter rooms are decked with blonde wood, and you can look onto a lake-like swimming pool lined with elegant sun loungers.

The farmhouse feels like a private home – multiple ﬂoors of charmingly crooked landings, low ceilings and Bhutanese furniture. After being serenaded in the courtyard over Kora tea – this time, chilled –we enjoy a cooking class to make the famous momos – one of many excursions including river rafting to the famous Punakha Dzong, hikes and a riverside barbecue lunch. We enjoy this after a sunny morning hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten – a temple built by the Queen in 2004 overlooking the valley. All temples in Bhutan are home to prayer wheels, and spinning them is akin to reciting mantras. We join a line of locals spinning, and hoping.

Clockwise from top left: the arrival at Amankora Thimpu; one of Bhutan’s many Buddhist temples; Bhutanese cuisine is cheese heavy

The Bhutanese have a love affair with cheese and put it into just about anything they can. The national dish is chilli cheese

Bhutan’s landscape is largely made up of Buddhist temples – dedicated to gurus and royals with butter lamps – and forts, home to scarlet-robed monks. In Punakha Dzong, on our way back to Paro, we see monks practising for an upcoming ceremony, dancing in unison across the sun-dappled courtyard. Most visitors come for 10 days to two weeks, moving onto Amankora Gangtey and Bumthang before taking a domestic flight back to Paro and departing the kingdom. Our journey follows the same route back – where we stop to picnic and enjoy areas solely reserved for Amankora guests: elevated viewpoints and plush rooms on the well-trodden route between lodges. Our final stop is Paro, a lively valley town, where Amankora Paro is reached through a thick pine forest. Paro, the largest of Amankora’s lodges, has a spa and garden with temple and mountain views. Rooms are identical to Punakha’s, perhaps to minimise the discombobulation of moving from lodge to lodge – which is the done thing. Bhutanese people love onsen baths, and public bathhouses and facilities are found nationwide – hot and bubbling with fragrant eucalyptus perfect for soaking away after hikes. Amankora’ Paro’s onsen baths are private suites overlooking the pine forests and served with ice-cold apple juice. During the evenings, we enjoy calligraphy and make our own prayer flags, and on the final night, we are loaned a Bhutanese Kira of our own – now a meaningful emblem of this beautiful country.

Paro is most famous for being the home of The Tiger’s Nest – Bhutan’s most iconic sight and an unequivocal must-do hike in the Kingdom. Believed to be where Guru Rinpoche brought Buddhism to Bhutan, the vertiginous temple clings to the rocks, 3,120 meters above sea level and is a pilgrimage site most Bhuddists will complete once in their lives. We hike for four hours up to the sacred spot, past fluttering prayer flags and with views stretching to the snowy Himalayas, finally ascending to the temple where we leave our phones behind and explore shrine after shine, jostling with pilgrims and locals. Afterwards, in typical Aman style, we rest our weary bodies in Aman’s private lodge – set in a forest clearing with sunloungers and a white-clothed dining table where we’re served Bhutanese lunch and hot kora tea – as we toast to our adventures.

GETTING THERE

Flydubai ﬂies direct to Kathmandu, Nepal, with direct connections available to Paro International Airport. Bhutan Airlines will soon operate a bi-weekly service from Sharjah to Paro. Amankora stays include all meals, laundry, visa processing assistance, house beverages, picnics and, for seven-day stays or more, complimentary private road transport. StaysfromUSD1,900(aboutAED6,980)anight. aman.com

From left: traditional Onsen bath at Amankora Paro; a private riverside picnic in Punakha; Amankora Punakha’s swimming pool

REIMAGINING AN

ICON

Now, the landmark that once housed two giant turbines roars to a very different sound, the sound of excitable shoppers

A beacon of the London skyline has been reborn as the city’s most exciting new shopping, dining and lifestyle destination – an homage to London’s rich heritage and modern luxury

Since 1933, Battersea Power Station has been an icon of the London skyline. Its four turrets, rising into the sky like minarets, are seen across the river and, at its peak, was producing a ﬁfth of London’s power. Following its decommissioning in 1983, the power station became a symbol of South London, and in 2022, after eight years of meticulous restoration, the iconic Grade II* listed structure was reborn as London’s most unique new retail and dining destination.

Now, the landmark that once housed two giant turbines roars to a very di erent sound, the sound of excitable shoppers who come for drinks, dining and entertainment. Located on the banks of the River Thames, the Battersea Power Station of today is a destination in itself, a 42-acre mixed-use neighbourhood where a day can be anything from shopping and elegant waterside lunches to convivial drinks and pop-up events, all while respecting the rich heritage of this beloved Grade II* listed landmark.

Visitors can peruse over 140 shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and unique leisure experiences in and around the famous building, backing out on the stylish London neighbourhoods of Battersea, Chelsea and the River Thames. Perfect for a shopping trip, a favourite pastime with GCC travellers, the power station is home to major international luxury brands, with Mulberry, Breitling, Watches of Switzerland, Rolex and Chanel Beauty all ﬁnding a chic new home in the development. Shopping at these luxury brands is the perfect alternative to other London shopping destinations, with all boutiques housed under one roof in heritage surroundings

and o ering an impressive range of brands. Other immersive additions include a gleaming Apple store and Genesis – a new automotive luxury experience inspired by the very best of Korean culture.

These luxurious brands sit beside local boutiques and powerhouse stores like Zara, Nike, SpaceNK, Jo Malone London, Le Labo and more. Art lovers will delight in the addition of Clarendon Fine Art, the world’s leading gallery group specialising in international modern and contemporary ﬁne art, whose limited-edition pieces and original works are from some of the world’s most dynamic and talented street, pop, and contemporary artists. At the same time, Curated Makers invites shoppers into the local London community, with shelves ﬁlled with unique handcrafted gifts and treats from over 40 local small businesses.

It’s easy to spend the whole day at Battersea Power Station, wandering the riverside cafes, shopping in its glossy stores and perhaps even booking a room at the resident art’otel London Battersea Power Station – a 164 room city escape with rooftop infinity pool, artfilled rooms and JOIA restaurant by Michelin-starred chef, Henrique Sá Pessoa. London’s best drinking and dining outlets are also on o er, seeing you through from 11 am co ees to power (or languid) lunches, cocktails and dinners with over 50 places to choose from. Mustvisits include the first tashas in the UK – the chic South African-born brand loved by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. For something that appeals to the whole family, there’s the 24,000 square foot Arcade Food Hall serving 13 cuisines from around the globe.

But Battersea Power Station is so much more than shopping and dining; it’s an icon of the community. With it, the development has access to 450 metres of River Thames frontage and considerable green space, which is activated throughout the year with a unique programme of events. Highlights include the summer-long Battersea Games, The Light Festival, and Christmas at Battersea Power Station, which includes Glide, London’s only riverside ice rink. This summer, Battersea Power Station will host the o cial Team GB fan zone for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics and The Wimbledon Experience.

‘Battersea Power Station is the new must-visit destination in Central London, which is proving extremely popular with international tourists. We have transformed this iconic piece of London’s history from a derelict ruin into a vibrant town centre, home to an amazing mix of shops, restaurants, cafes and leisure experiences,’ says Sam Cotton, head of asset management at Battersea Power Station Development Company.

‘Battersea Power Station has been designed so you can spend the whole day here, from an early morning brunch to a trip to the cinema, a visit to Lift 109, our unique chimney life experience o ering 360-degree views of London, and then ﬁnishing with an exquisite dinner at one of the neighbourhood’s restaurants. With our ever-changing programme of events, brand pop-ups and store openings, there is always something new to experience at Battersea Power Station.’ batterseapowerstation.co.uk, @batterseapwrstn

A SCANDI NAVIAN

With long sunny days, cool coffee shops and a new wave of design hotels with rooftop pools, Copenhagen is the perfect European summer escape from the GCC

SUMMER

In summer, something special happens in Scandinavia

– days seem to never end. In June, the month of the solstice, the sun rises as early as 4 am, setting as late as 11 pm, creating aun unfolding of warm, honey-hued hazy days. In the Danish capital of Copenhagen, locals and life changes – spilling outdoors, onto rooftops, into the clean waters of the Nyhavn river. Locals ﬂit between co ee shops and markets and cram onto waterside docs to sun tan - their oily limbs glistening in the sun. A general air of happiness and sophistication radiates through the city, making it one of the most wonderful European summer destinations. Located on the waters of the Øresund strait, Copenhagen is one of the world’s most recognisable capitals – marked by colourful historic waterside buildings, Edvard Eriksen’s Little Mermaid statue and charming hygge eateries (not to mention the former home of best restaurant in the world, Noma), and boasting a great bicycle culture and some of the world’s happiest locals. As the weather warms up, the

city becomes more accessible, feeling more like a big village than the capital city. The city also sets the benchmark for sustainable living –bikes are more common than cars, the air feels clean, and hundreds of eco shops, hotels and cafes are cropping up.

In Denmark, the concept of hygge –a warm feeling of good vibes and good people – is omnipresent. The concept governs summer living, evident in the interiors of cafes, bars and restaurants, with furnishings and softly lit spaces. Also o cial? There are more bikes than people, and while the city is marvellous for exploring on foot, there’s nothing more freeing than jumping on two wheels and heading out to explore.

A FOODIE CAPITAL

There’s an insatiable buzz in Copenhagen in the summer. Still, things never feel too crowded – and to travel here in summer is to experience a quintessential summer vibe in Europe, but with a stylish edge. Danish people live in cafés and co ee shops, and an a nity is shared with travellers from the GCC, and co ee and breakfast are a priority. In the neighbourhood of Refshaleøen, organic café and bakery Lille serves steaming espressos with warm buttery Danishes – the embodiment of hygge. Mornings are for co ee and wanders, with a cinnamon bun in hand, to the Nyhvvn – the iconic view of Copenhagen with its colourful rows of historic houses (once of Hands Christian Anderson) and its 18th-century Rococo district home to the royal Amalienborg Palace.

Clockwise, from left: Prolog Coffee in Vesterbro; traditional Smørrebrød sandwiches; the city has more bicycles than people; cobbled streets; coffee at Prolog

page: summertime swimming at Krøyers Plads; the rooftop pool at Villa Copenhagen

Clockwise from left: boats sail down the Nyhavn; Danish pastries at Villa Copenhagen’s on-site Rug Bakery; Elmgreen & Dragset installation at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art; queues at Lille Bakery

Danish food is traditional and wholesome, cool and conceptual; after all, its restaurant scene is one of the most lauded in the world. Wander to restaurant Møntergade for a trad Danish lunch of smørrebrød open-faced rye bread sandwiches, or book into Alchemist for a mystical world in an old shipping yard. There are no bad restaurants in Copenhagen, or bad taste, for that matter, and every corner is buzzing with style and activities. In the trendy meatpacking district of Kødbyen (literally translating to meat city) in Vesterbro – a new surge of nightlife and restaurants have arisen in the district’s warehouse serving Nordic and Mediterranean cuisine. Come sip on more co ee and ﬂick through Indie magazines at a specialty co ee roaster, Prolog Co ee.

THE VILLAGE CITY

Summer living in Copenhagen centres around the water – the Nyhavn River runs through the city and the Öresund strait is the gateway to windswept, beachy Danish islands and Sweden. But in the city itself, locals make the most of the season by packing onto terraces and deckings, leaping o into the strait to cool down. The Danish capital has an industrial harbour where people swim and ﬁsh without health risks. In the Islands Brygge Harbour, there are ﬁve basins specially designed for swimming, with a children’s area and springboard diving. In Krøyers Plads, a trendy sharp-edged brick development in the heart of Copenhagen harbour, locals bring their towels to sunbathe and swim. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see paddleboards gliding down the Nyhavn and harbour.

Long, warm days give way to lots of walking: meandering the streets and exploring, but also walking with purpose. Head through the botanical gardens to see its butterﬂy and palm tree houses and a living museum. This route leads you to Torvehallerne, a marketplace loaded with fresh local produce and homebrewed co ee, typically Copenhagen, a gourmet deli. Sundays in the Danish capital are for visiting ﬂea markets, and many pop up across the capital throughout the year, especially in summer. Det Grønne Loppemarked, ‘The Green Flea Market’, in Nørrebro, epitomises relaxed, chilled Copenhagen style, selling everything from vintage lamps to secondhand Ganni pieces and plant-based dishes.

The city’s maritime heritage adds to the summer feeling, mainly on the historic waterways themselves. Visitors can kayak, enjoy boat trousers, and captain their own private sailing boat or electric boats down Copenhagen’s charming canals. There’s nowhere more fairytale-esque for summer strolls than Copenhagen than the Tivoli Gardens – the world-famous amusement park with manicured gardens and rollercoasters, attracting visitors since the 19th century. This is a fairytale, an ode to the likes of native Hans Christian Andersen and a world of faded grandeur. Centuryold wooden rollercoasters lie next to modern rides like The Demon, and The Orangery is one of a dozen gardens with exotic plants. In summer, open-air stages pop up for concerts with local and international artists from 10pm on Friday evenings – illuminated by the last rays of sunshine.

CULTURE AND MUSEUMS

As the weather warms up, so does the city’s desire for culture and enlightenment – museums, galleries, and the city’s many palaces are mustdo summer activities. From the old harbour, the reﬂections of the Royal Danish Playhouse’s glass front shimmer on the waterfront, hosting plays and recitals throughout the year. From the playhouse, it’s a short stroll down the Langelinie waterfront promenade to the Amalienborg Palace, the grand seat of the Danish royal family. For the price of a ticket, you can wander its gilded rooms and manicured gardens.

For those on an extended stay, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is a must – a 35km trade ride north of the city, overlooking the Øresund with views of Sweden, designed for Danish modern art but expanded to showcase works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney and Pablo Picasso – the dramatic coastline serves as a spellbinding background to its Sculpture Park, where 60 sculptures blend with the rugged surroundings.

As the weather warms up, life changes –spilling outdoors, onto rooftops, into the clean waters

of the Nyhavn

From left: sunbathing in the city’s green public spaces; the colourful 17th-century Nyhavn waterfront

COPENHAGEN HOTELS

VILLA COPENHAGEN

There are no bad restaurants in Copenhagen, or bad taste

When it comes to a European summer, Copenhagen poses as a sun-dappled destination of note; far from the perennially popular, sometimes scorching and sometimes overcrowded spots of the Med, this dynamic and magnetic city is polished and, contemporary, slick and understated, inviting travellers to long summer nights and mornings where the smell of fresh co ee and Danishes ﬁll the air. This, along with a host of stunning design hotels with sunny gardens and rooftop pools, makes Copenhagen the summer destination for 2024.

Right by Tivoli Gardens, in the city’s former Central Post and Telegraph Head O ce, lies one of the coolest design hotels in Scandinavia – Villa Copenhagen. In 2020, a new life was breathed into this 1912 heritage landmark, and it’s now buzzing social spaces designed to resemble a grand Copenhagen residence. There are all the classic hallmarks of these coveted residential spaces: high ceilings, gold accents, herringbone ﬂoors and soaring windows overlooking the cobbled streets below. Suites are stand out: The Shamballa suite is all cocooning in navy and slate grey; the Earth Suite is terracotta and earth-hued using only recycled materials and with design touches like statement lighting and a punching bag suspended from the ceiling. The most coveted is the Universal Penthouse – a two-storey grand residence with a dramatic spiral stairway, exposed timber beams and limewash walls. Guests enter directly to the Courtyard Bar – a showstopper of Nordic design with its glass canopy and serving local and sustainable produce. Breakfast is also a highlight: freshly baked pastries and bread baked onsite at the Rug bakery each morning. In summer, there’s nowhere like the rooftop pool – 25-metres, sunbed framed and sustainably heated with beautiful views of the capital. villacopenhagen.com

Clockwise, from above: art on the walls of Villa Copenhagen, the rooftop pool; stylish bedrooms at Grand Joanne, the hotel’s rooftop garden

25HOURS HOTEL INDRE BY

Dubai’s cool crowd will be familiar with the 25hours brand. The same year the group launched 25hours Dubai, it opened 25hours Hotel Indre By, housed in a 19th-century porcelain factory turned university building. Centrally located near the Kobmagergade shopping street, the brand has brought its same cheeky Euro-cool energy to 243 rooms and suites – enlisting the help of Swedish designer Martin Brudnizki (think London’s Sexy Fish and Annabel’s) to create a riot of expressive artwork and colour. Rooms are approachable and diverse, ranging from medium singles to aptly named Gigantic – some have sunny little private gardens with wildflowers. The hotel is full of vintage finds from the archives. Café Duse is sage green with mustard poofs, while the Rendezvous bar is scarlet red with a roaring fireplace. 25hours and Copenhagen share a love for bicycles, and the brand’s Schindelhauer bikes are available for guests to use free of charge. A highlight is the wellness floor, with an outside sauna, both indoor and outdoor lounges with sun loungers – plus the Seek & Find concept store with local Copenhagen brands. 25hours-hotels.com

GRAND JOANNE

Tucked away in the trendy Meatpacking district of Vesterbro is Grand Joanne – set in a revamped 19th-century building and a testament to great Scandinavian design. Occupying six ﬂoors, the hotel feels more like a private members club or cool Copenhagen hangout, thanks to neighbourhood initiatives, pop-ups and classes that attract both guests and good-looking locals. Period touches have been meticulously left behind – the lofty stained glass windows and high ceilings – and each room is slightly di erent, from the cosy doubles perfect for couples to the Penthouse suite – a chic Copenhagen apartment with parquet ﬂoors, artwork and its own private terrace. All rooms are delightfully soothing shades of yellows and oranges, pinks and beiges reminiscent of long Scandi summer days and boho textures like boucle, wicker, brass and quirky headboards. In the summer months, a typically Danish breakfast is served at Joanne’s terrace, which doubles as the spot for cocktails and Italian cuisine in the evening. A rooftop terrace and garden cap the hotel in style – a buzzing after-work drink and nibbles spot with beautiful views over Vesterbro. grandjoanne.dk

Clockwise from right: ferm living furnishings in a Villa Copenhagen suite, dining at the hotel; 25hours Hotel Copenhagen Indre By’s sun terrace, dining at 25hours, some hotel rooms have rustic gardens

Words by ISABELLA CRADDOCK

Art AND SOUL

An innovative private rental company is opening up the stylish homes of South Africa’s top creatives and art collectors with a unique portfolio of exciting stays and experiences

Photography by ART HOUSE COLLECTION, MICKY HOYLE

Iadore hotels, but what I truly cherish when visiting an exciting destination is being able to bed down properly, live like a local, and settle into a homely space equipped with home comforts. Of course, this needs to be stylish and better than my actual home, and that’s where Art House Collection comes into play: a rental service where the private homes of architects, magazine editors, interior designers, stylists, photographers and artists double as stylish and unique holiday stays.

The company is the baby of Elana Brundyn, a consultant, former museum director and prominent ﬁgure on South Africa’s art scene who founded Art House Collection as an o shoot of In Residence – her husband Pieter Brundyn’s luxury international villa rental company known for its Cape Town mansions to rival Iron Man’s, Tony Stark’s. ‘The idea came to me on holiday,’ admits Brundyn. ‘I was holidaying with my husband in San Miguel de Allende. We were staying at this charming villa; it was soulful and intimate, ﬁlled with craftsmanship and texture. I told him it would make the perfect addition to the In Residence portfolio, but he felt it lacked that certain grandness that so many of Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard villas have. And that’s when Art Collection was born.’

While In Residence villas are typically larger, striking architectural properties on the Atlantic Seaboard, Art House Collection’s are ﬁlled with character, from relaxed beach bungalows to family-friendly manor houses on a wine farm. It’s in an Art House Collection property, that I ﬁnd myself at my new home-away-from-home, Brenaissance, a remarkable four-bedroom pad atop a hill in the Cape Winelands. In the homestay, dining rooms can host newfound friends, families can stay together in multiple bedrooms (there’s even a maid’s quarters) and a kitchen can supply casual meals after days exploring.

‘I decided to start Art House Collection to o er travellers an alternative – sometimes unusual or surprising, but always rich and inspiring – to conventional villa rentals,’ continues Brundyn. Today, Art House Collection’s reach stretches across South Africa. In Cape Town, there’s Heaven on Fourth, a colourful beach house on the Atlantic Seaboard with red striped awnings and African art; Palm Springs, straight out of a Slim Aarons photograph and evoking Sixties Palm Springs glamour, boho St James Beach House and Heatherfield Manor, a Victoriana former Parsonage near vibrant Kloof Street, to name just a few. Travel further afield to the Cape Winelands and you’ll find everything from modern megamansions and design-led Cape Dutch homesteads to cattle rancher estates with manicured hedged gardens filled with taxidermy. The latter is where I stay, where collections include massive fossil reliefs and sculptures by South African artist Toby Megaw and Denzil Herring’s still-life paintings.

‘That’s what still guides us today: this desire to seek out the most unique homes – each one carefully curated and individual – and open them up for like-minded travellers to experience,’ explains Brundyn. ‘From the moment an Art House Collection guest opens their eyes in the morning, they should feel part of an experience where every detail has been carefully thought through and arranged to make their stay as personal and considered as possible.’

Joining her in her mission is new CEO Piet Smedy, former editor-in-chief of House & Garden South Africa, who made the move from publishing to hospitality, expanding the team’s quest for shiny new properties and overseeing the ﬁner details. Like a hotel, guests can request extras like slippers and robes and can opt into concierge services, using the Art House team’s connections to curate memorable, priceless experiences focusing on food, art and culture – from trips to the Norval Foundation and private vineyard tours to helicopter rides and private chef dinners in the comfort of their temporary home. At Brenaissance, we enjoy an intimate couples’ dinner, cooked in the model kitchen, by renowned chef and culinary consultant Nicola Spilsbury, whose clients include A-list international celebrities.

Opposite page from top: the cosy sitting room at Frida in Montagu; the architectural Esther villa in the bushveld of the Eastern Cape

Previous page, from left: Brenaissance manor house; Frida’s wildlooking swimming pool

‘The properties in our collection are as diverse as their owners, ranging from designers and collectors to artists, film actors and magazine editors’

From left: antiques and art at Frida in Montagu; luxe beachfront Marina in Plettenberg Bay; fresh Montagu produce at Frida and Irma

But it isn’t just couples and discerning timesavers who Art House Collection’s stunning portfolio appeals to. ‘Just like our homes, the travellers who stay with us are unique,’ explains Smedy. ‘They can be families, couples, or even solo adventurers, each looking for something di erent, whether that’s to be transported and inspired or simply given the space to exhale. But they all share a certain curiosity, a sense of individuality, and a need to experience something that the four walls of a hotel room, no matter how grand, can’t o er.’ So what makes an Art House property? ‘There’s no checklist,’ he admits, ‘simply put, a property needs to align with our philosophy. They need to be comfortable and well-appointed, but more than that, it comes down to a feeling: a lightness when you step through the door, the intrigue of a beautifully composed space that has been touched by a creative hand. It’s this natural easiness that deﬁnes an Art House.’

A creative hand is undoubtedly felt in properties like Esther – an unmistakable, sandcastle-like estate with terracotta-toned turrets – set on a private beach and wildlife reserve on the sunshine coast of the Eastern Cape. Then there’s Frida and Irma, two immaculately restored 160-year-old houses in the pastoral enclave of Montagu, famed for fruit orchards, rock formations and healing hot mineral springs. Frida and Irma are delightful for friendship groups or families friends travelling together, giving each their own exquisite home linked by lemon orchards and home to pools which resemble

wild swimming. And they’re not all sprawling estates with multiple bedrooms. Nearby in Montagu, minimalist faith sleeps just two guests, designed around Dutch, Scandinavian and Japanese principles with zero clutter and purposeful placement of objects and artwork with an unfussy garden and rooftop terrace.

In South Africa’s Karoo, the vast semi-arid region stretching 500,000 square metres across South Africa, there are two charming whitewashed homestays, including Karoo Heritage Manor – a restored heritage home reimagined as an African-noveau design space – and Helen House, a cottage oozing with historic charm, plus a private plunge pool and hot tub. The Karoo poses as an alternative South African escape – one of peace, nature, exploration, history and heritage, where villages remain almost frozen in time.

‘By virtue of South Africa’s incredibly diverse landscape, we’re able to o er our guests Art Houses in just about any environment, from chic city spaces in the heart of Cape Town to bungalows along the white-sand beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, Cape Dutch manor houses surrounded by vineyards in the Winelands, rustic mountains cabins and farﬂung countryside cottages. We’ve even recently added a riad-style home, ﬁlled with pieces sourced from the souks of Marrakech,’ adds the forward-thinking CEO, Smedy.

ART & SOUL

‘By

virtue of South Africa’s incredibly diverse landscape, we’re able to offer our guests Art Houses in just about any environment’

From left: game reserve tours are available from Esther; Frida’s greenhouse is a horticulturalist’s paradise

Indeed, personal and meaningful collections add a certain familiarity and homeliness that hotels can’t quite deliver, where love and personality are poured into four walls, expressing each individual owner – a real treat for art lovers. ‘Art House Collection offers guests a safe and relaxing space to engage with art,’ adds Brundyn. ‘A private home isn’t as intimidating as a museum or gallery, and the properties in our collection are as diverse as their owners, ranging from designers and collectors to artists, film actors and magazine editors. They’re mostly creative professionals for whom that creativity extends far beyond their day job – and this offers our guests a very unique window into the creative community of South Africa.’

The creative community of South Africa is under the spotlight, but communities further aﬁeld are chomping at the bit. ‘We’ve already received requests from homeowners in Italy and the Netherlands to bring Art House Collection to Europe, so we know the audience is there,’ reveals Smedy. And there are even plans for a launch closer to home. ‘I would love to see Art House Collection grow into the MENA region; with such a rich and diverse culture of craftsmanship and art, it would be the natural next step.’ We’re waiting…

Stays from ZAR3,800 (about AED750) a night, arthouse-collection. com, reservations@arthouse-collection.com, @arthouse.collection

Clockwise from left: country-chic bedrooms at Frida and Irma; African art at Heaven on Fourth, the house overlooks the Atlantic Seaboard; the historic exterior of Frida and Irma

Clockwise from left: sun soaking at Bantry Bay’s striking Zanele; bath with a view at Esther; Greg Lourens’ pencil and pastel portraits at Brenaissance; beach views from Heaven on Fourth; fresh produce at new farmhouse stay, Oxalis, in Scarborough

A NEW DAWN THE ROLLSROYCE SPECTRE

IN NAPA VALLEY CALIFORNIA

What happened when the world’s most innovative, and sustainable, luxury good met the rolling vines of Napa Valley and its most in-demand new hotel

From left: RollsRoyce Spectre at Promontory Wine; the distinct architecture of Napa Valley’s wineries

In1900, a young Englishman, Charles Stewart Rolls, made something of a prophecy in a magazine article. Years away from forming Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, along with Henry Royce, he observed the weaknesses of the automobile industry. At the time, cars were loud, dirty; they spluttered and made earsplitting bangs as they trundled down the road. Ahead of his time, he wrote: ‘The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration. They should become very useful when ﬁxed charging stations can be arranged.’

Along with Royce, Rolls soon formed the house that changed the luxury motoring industry forever, becoming more than just an automobile but a luxury brand, a global standard of excellence, and the representation of a lifestyle. To this day, the superlatives and titans of industries are referred to as the ‘Rolls-Royce of’, and while this is something the British motoring company has held for decades, it certainly doesn’t rest on its laurels. Over 120 years after Charles Rolls’ prophesy, the marque has unveiled, undoubtedly, the biggest game-changer of the ultra-luxury motor market, Spectre.

Spectre was decades in the making, the realisation of a team driven by perfection and with impossibly high standards. First and foremost, the car had to be unmistakably a Rolls-Royce, and then an electric car, and, until the technology was there and this could be realised, Charles Rolls’ dream would wait. One thing the brand knew was the car would bear the moniker Spectre, inspired by historic Spectre models of the 20th century and the Silver Spectre. Things progressed behind the scenes, driven by (now former) Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, director of design Anders Warming and director of engineering Dr Mihiar Ayoubi. In 2022, the ﬁrst Spectre was unveiled at the marque’s home of Goodwood, Sussex, in the picturesque English countryside.

The car debuted in the UAE at Atlantis the Royal and Manarat Al Saadiyat, and in the summer, Rolls-Royce raised the bar by taking over Napa Valley for a ‘Summer of Spectre’, showcasing the cars and delivering the experience of a decade. The stage was Northern California, the in-demand Four Seasons Napa Valley and Promontory Wine, where a two-year waiting list for its vintages is longer than the waiting list for Spectre…

‘We decided to go to California for the launch, as the US is our largest market, and California is such a luxury hub,’ says Emma Begley, director of communications at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. ‘This is the place where history and the old order of the wine world have been rewritten. The winemakers here showed that great wines can be made outside the hallowed lands of Burgundy and Bordeaux, and this is what our clients want. Spectre represents a similarly spectacular break from our past.’

THE SPECTRE JOURNEY

Rolls-Royce’s Syrian-born director of engineering Dr Mihiar Ayoubi was tasked with the feat of electriﬁcation. ‘We found through our discussions that we needed to be highly emotional with the new car – and a highly emotional concept is always a coupe. It has to be a Rolls-Royce ﬁrst and an electric car second,’ he says. ‘I was searching for the right words to describe the core values of Rolls-Royce and Spectre, and these are “waftability” and the Magic Carpet ride –ultra easy to drive, ultra smooth to accelerate, and ultra silent,’ he continues.

The focus on being a luxury good was also in the brief for director of design Anders Warming. ‘As a designer, this is such an important moment; Rolls-Royce Spectre is made by men and women by hand; this is more a luxury good, a luxury product, than an actual car,’ says the Danish designer. ‘When we create a design, we want to tell stories. Everything you see relates to something that inspired us, something greater than the sum of its part. When designing a RollsRoyce, we think of three things: our patrons, creators and heritage. What is important to us is that we keep the spirit and ethos of our founders alive. We take the best and make it better; this lives on in everything we design. When designing Rolls-Royces, we create automotive haute couture; there’s nothing quite like it in the world,’ he continues.

THE DRIVE

Rolls-Royce Spectre is ﬁrst a Rolls-Royce, and then an electric car, and getting behind the wheel feels almost no di erent from its iconic models, Phantom, Wraith, Ghost or Cullinan. One di erence, however, is the

streamlined cockpit, removing superﬂuous distractors to create a drive focused on the road and the moment.

A true delight is the ever so subtle crescendo of a harp upon acceleration. With no V12 engine (or engine noise), the marque cleverly input sound to create a more tactile driving experience.

The dramatic soundbite feels like the soundtrack to the driver’s own experience, allowing them to live inside their own mini-movie. Spectre’s drive itself is e ortlessly smooth, almost hovering above the road, wafting through the air as if lifted by a string. A ‘B’ button on the spindly column shifter can be pressed to increase regenerative braking and ensure the smoothest ride – so smooth, a glass of champagne would not be spilt in the backseat.

‘Spectre is designed to sit in, not on,’ explains Warming of the rear design. Passengers sink into the butter-soft leather cabin and, come night, can gaze up at the canopy of stars that is the signature RollsRoyce Starlight Headliner. A popular design addition to Rolls-Royce automobiles, hundreds of ﬁbre-optic lights handset into the leather to create the illusion of shooting stars and constellations. Spectre takes this to a new level with Starlight Doors, enveloping the user in the same sparkling, hand-crafted light display.

How Rolls-Royce shows its ﬁrst ultimate luxury product, more than an automobile, is by truly enhancing the life of the owner or driver. An umbrella is perfectly tucked away in the door for a rainy day. Owners also have access to Whispers, Rolls-Royce’s own members’ app, where like-minded drivers can read though-provoking editorials by a global team of leading journalists and thinkers, discreetly connect with each other and have access to the priceless perks and experiences that come with being part of the Rolls-Royce owners’ club.

Clockwise from top left: the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy features on Spectre; Dr Mihiar Ayoubi; the swimming pool at Four Seasons Napa Valley; the resort’s bucolic architecture

‘Rolls-Royce Spectre is made by men and women by hand. This is more a luxury good, a luxury product, than an actual car’

NAPA’S NEWEST ADDRESS

‘This is the hottest bed in town,’ added Begley on the setting for the Summer of Spectre, the enchantingly unique and bucolic Four Seasons Napa Valley. ‘Local resident Erin Martin built it to reﬂect the agricultural history of the place. It’s somewhere our clients would come.’

The property is the epitome of quiet luxury. Four Seasons‘ signage is barely noticeable, and the grounds resemble a winemaking farm over hotel. The property lies just 1.5 hours from San Francisco in the heart of Calistoga. Rooms have slick fireplaces – roaring at the flick of a switch – terraces overlooking the valleys, jacuzzis bubble away, and a farm-to-table restaurant served blends from its own winery. This is all-American low-key luxury at its finest, the hospitality equivalent of Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce is a lifestyle, and as part of Spectre’s launch, Rolls-Royce clients were granted access to Promontory Wine, one of the most exclusive wineries in North America. Sitting atop a promontory on the convergence of three rock formations, its mineral-rich soils have allowed it to create an all-encompassing, diverse range of blends, while only planting the valley’s signature Cabernet Sauvignon. Some wines have a two-year waiting list, and the winery is strictly by appointment only, overlooking the tapestry of rich golds, oranges and greens.

Spectre is the future of the ultra-luxury automobile industry as the world shifts away from gas-guzzling supercars to sustainable options. The world is changing, and Rolls-Royce is once again at the forefront, and drivers have the chance to be part of history.

Charles Rolls would be proud.

From $422,750 (about AED1.55 million); rolls-roycemotorcars.com

OASIS OF SPLENDOUR

The UAE’s leading beach destination, Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island lures with opulent suites, private garden villas, world-class facilities and soft white sands

There are few places more beautiful in the UAE than Saadiyat Island: its white sands are powder-soft, its ocean views endless and its grounds lush and teaming with wildlife. Here, in these picture-perfect surroundings, is where the most luxurious Rixos in the UAE stands – the haven of relaxation, wellness, and elegance that is Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island.

Spread across acres of private grounds, shaded by palm trees and backing onto beach, Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island invites guests into a world of Turkish and Arabesque splendour – where 288 beautiful rooms boast luxurious amenities, the cosiest beds and the most stunning sea or garden views. Its exclusive Club Privé by Rixos Saadiyat Island is an innovative concept redeﬁning luxury – a private villa experience with allinclusive dining and butler service. Extensive pool suites also have direct access to the swimming pool. From these ornate rooms, guests have access to a world of striking natural beauty: the beach, of course, but also the cultural attractions of Saadiyat – the world-famous Louvre Abu Dhabi is a stone’s throw away.

What’s most impressive is Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island’s all-exclusive experience, reinventing the traditional all-inclusive with an e ortless and luxurious approach. Guests can experience an exemplary display of Turkish hospitality in restaurants like Ottoman-inspired Turquoise and L’Olivio – the epitome of Italian glamour. Elsewhere, an elegant lobby lounge serves afternoon tea and Highlights Bar is the spot for sun-dapped poolside dining and drinks. All views point to Saadiyat’s outstanding natural beauty – where guests can spot leaping gazelles and dolphins frolicking in the Arabian Gulf

Days here are spent swimming, sunbathing, relaxing and dining, but also enjoying a host of sports and activities on both land and sea, from paddleboarding to tennis. Rixos’ famed Rixy Kids Club is also on-site, delighting and educatinglittleoneswithdynamicitineraries.Toexperience the UAE’s most famous beach destination in sublime luxury, book a stay at Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island. rixos.com,@rixospremiumsaadiyat

Photography by ROBERT RIEGER

TRIPS A TALE

TWO of

On a whirlwind week trip, Isabella Craddock enjoys two very different escapes, a crisp New York City springtime in the world’s most coveted n ew c it y hotel and the powder-soft sands of an exclusive island hideaw ay, p rovi ng this corner of the world isn’t too far awa y, after all

NYC

Standing on a pinky-hued shore, I almost can’t believe the beauty unfolding before me. Much talk is said of the waters in and around the Caribbean, but until you see it for yourself, it’s hard to believe. Sands white and ﬁne as caster sugar coat my feet, the water gently laps my toes, and behind me, the sun is setting over thick vegetation which hides striking architectural villas. It’s equally hard to believe that just earlier that day, I was experiencing a blustery spring day in New York City, and just a few days before that, the heat of the UAE.

From the GCC, the Americas can often seem like an enigma, too far away to comprehend, but in reality, they’re closer than you think – and there’s no need to carve weeks on end to accommodate travels and time zones. The stepping stone is New York City, and with it, the most talked-about new city hotel in the world – a hotel that brings the feel of a Far East resort to the centre of Manhattan –Aman New York. From Aman New York, it’s just a 3-hour 40-minute ﬂight to Amanyara – tucked away on a reserve coastline in the Turks & Caicos Islands. This is the resort where the late pop legend Prince came to hide away in its Artists Villa, complete with a recording studio designed by Nile Rodgers, and where A-list and billionaire founders retreat for weekend escapes and culture collides with spellbinding scenery.

It’s from Abu Dhabi, on an early March morning – balancing the seasons of New York City with the steamy temperatures of Turks and Caicos – that we jet o for the Americas. We’re not here for weeks, a little under one, in fact, showcasing the two resorts’ doability for an Eid or summer escape. Abu Dhabi is just one of 15 places in the world o ering preclearance, and ﬂying Etihad means the priceless advantage of having means US customs completed in Abu Dhabi by friendly Abu Dhabibased sta and ﬂights arriving at the domestic terminal – eliminating any immigration queues.

A NEW YORK MINUTE

There’s something magical about travelling back in time and having the day stretch ahead, which is always the case when landing from the GCC to New York City. This is a city that plugs you into a wall; its energy is palpable from the second you touch down: the sirens, the people and the intoxicating energy. At the heart of this great city is Midtown Manhattan – a tourist district home to Broadway, Times Square, the Rockefeller Center and more. But despite its seemingly fantastic location, this tourist trap has long been avoided by many discerning travellers, until now. Now, on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, Aman New York has opened its doors as a cocoon of eastern luxury, reinstating the city’s relaxing escape appeal.

Its opening was a game-changer, ignoring its Midtown locale and taking inspiration from the Far East resorts the brand is known for. This means guests check into a completely zen, peaceful and otherworldly destination – making a restorative New York City break very much doable. Doormen guard the entrance, which is open only to guests and members of the Aman Club, where (nearly sold out) memberships go for USD200,000 a year.

Aman New York was a long time in the making, bringing the elite global brand to the city from which many of its most loyal client base travel – now o ering them a slice of their coveted travels back home. The location had to be superlative, and it took up residence in the historic Crown Building, an Art Deco icon of the Midtown skyline. The transformation is impeccable – guests are enveloped in moody Japanese interiors, incense and sound-proofed windows. The dichotomy is thrilling, and it is unthinkable to imagine the throngs of Fifth Avenue just feet away. Sirens, a constant in NYC, are also inaudible...

Clockwise from top left: fresh pasta at Arva, Aman New York’s ﬁne dining Italian; soothing Japanese décor; the 65-foot indoor swimming pool

Previous page, from left: Manhattan’s historic Crown Building is reimagined as Aman New York; private pavilions at Amanyara

Aman New York is far removed from resorts that shaped the brand, but somehow, it still manages to capture the essence in a historic Manhattan high-rise. Space – an enigma in New York City hotels – is something Aman took seriously when creating the 83 suites at Aman New York. The smallest you’ll get is a 718 square foot – the size of a spacious NYC apartment. Hushed, dimly lit corridors give way to impossibly elegant rooms, where upon entering for the ﬁrst time, you can’t help but smile and let out a sigh of delight. For me, the sigh is mainly for the ﬁreplace, the standalone bathtub and the 11-foot high ceilings, creating a stylish Manhattan sanctum.

Another sigh, or squeal, of delight is let o when ﬁrst stepping into Aman’s wellness enclave – greeted by fragrance hot steam which clears to reveal a magniﬁcent 65-foot swimming pool.

Cream chairs and loungers frame the waters, separated by roaring ﬁreplaces, and it’s easy to grab a book and spend a morning enveloped in this stunningly cosy space. Spa treatments transcend the typical spa experience (a must, with the knowledge of its jet-set clientele); so leave your experience in the hands of a therapist who will tailor it to exactly what you need.

A roaring den of Sixties hedonism and naughtiness, expect a goodlooking crowd and smoky renditions of jazz classics until the early hours

TCI

From below: Amanyara sits in an 18,000-acre nature reserve; tennis is a popular persuit

All our group emerges woozy, having all had something a little di erent, but all what we needed, physically and mentally.

While disconnected from the city, Aman New York embodies the spirit of New York. Tumble outside, and you’re in Central Park or Bergdorf Goodman. This inimitable NYC vibe can also be reached by just an elevator, descending to the jazz lounge – a roaring den of Sixties glamour, hedonism and naughtiness and the one spot open to the public. Expect a good-looking crowd and smoky renditions of jazz classics until the early hours. Because of its immense focus on relaxation, it’s easy to spend just a few nights here, to wear o jet lag, slow down and enjoy the best sleep of your life, all in the city that never sleeps.

OTHERWORDLY BEAUTY

Just hours after an early JFK departure and we touch down in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Popular with wealthy New Yorkers, Turks and Caicos is the Maldives for the Gulf traveller – and jetting in for a long weekend can do just as much good as weeks away elsewhere. Located in the Lucayan Archipelago, north of the Caribbean Sea and close to the Bahamas, the British overseas territories of Turks and Caicos is known as one of the most exclusive destinations – home to elite resorts, but also charming ramshackle clam shacks – an island staple (a conch festival is even held each November on Providenciales).

Set in the untamed Point Marine National Park in Providenciales’, this is a resort I wish everyone could visit in their lifetime. The beaches and turquoise waters are so beautiful they spark intense emotion, the level of attentive service is incomparable, and the personal butlers, chefs and general attention to detail is astonishing.

Clockwise from top: Amanyara pavilions have private gardens and pools; the resort’s main bar is an idyllic sundowner spot; non-motorised watersports are freely available for guests; dining al fresco by the ocean

This is a resort I wish everyone could visit in their lifetime. The beaches and turquoise waters are so beautiful they spark intense emotion

This is a resort for long and languid vacations: diving, snorkelling, sunbathing, playing tennis and feasting on fresh seafood, with both the option to hide away at the resort or pop out to local conch shack for a taste of Turks and Caicos life. Amanyara is the brand’s go-to for monied Americans but increasingly international elites, and everything is perfection without exception.

The resort is designed for guests who prefer to fly and flop and is set away from the island’s main towns. That said, it’s secluded but not entirely isolated and is around a 30-minute drive from the more builtup Grace Bay area. Tech billionaires, Hollywood celebrities, and business moguls (all of whom are on our stay) stroll happily around in flip flops and swim on the open beach, with an air of mutual respect and exclusivity meaning no guests have to hide away.

Each morning, our butler ferries trays of steaming hot matcha to each pavilion – a wake-up order he’s quickly mastered – and takes orders for breakfast on our private villa deck overlooking the ocean.

While New York City pulsates with energy, Amanyara slows to a steady beat – dissolving the stresses of everyday life. Three nights feels like a week, and while this is a dream destination for honeymoons and long adventures, it’s also positioned for short escapes from the city; ﬂights into New York, Miami and even London are quick, frequent and direct. The relaxation hub is the Amanyara Spa, which consists of almost ﬂoating pavilions around a lake so clear it’s mistaken for a swimming pool.

Turks and Caicos can seem worlds away from life in the GCC, but with a stopover in one of the world’s greatest cities, it’s easier than one would ever imagine. Just 3 hours and 40 minutes after leaving Turks’ mashed potato sands, we’re back in breezy New York City, and just 14 hours after that, 6,844 miles away, in Abu Dhabi. Not yet a week has passed, but it feels like a month – Aman New York and Amanayra are the perfect two-trip destinations, not seasonal and accessible yearround, be it summer or winter. This is a trip worth doing, a trip of a lifetime, that doesn’t need a lifetime away or a lifetime of planning. Aman New York, doubles from USD1,573 a night (about AED5,800); Amanyara, pavilions from USD2,200 (about AED8,080); aman.com

GETTING THERE

Etihad Airways (etihad.com) ﬂies direct to John F. Kennedy International Airport, where US customs can be cleared in Abu Dhabi. Using Blade (blade.com) – dubbed the ‘Uber’ of private helicopter travel – Manhattan is just a ﬁve-minute helicopter ride from JFK. Guests can book a standalone seat from USD195 direct to Blade’s heliport, a short drive to Aman.

Clockwise from below: lush vegetation surrounds Amanyara, the ultra-exclusive Artists Villa; the resort’s sprawling beachfront; the casual Beach Club restaurant

Jetsetter SALAMA MOHAMED

@salamamohamed

The beloved Emirati content creator-turned-beauty mogul and founder of Peacefull skincare (@peacefull) talks Middle East beauty, her favourite Dubai spots, travel destinations and what’s always ﬁrst in her carry on…

What’s your road most travelled? I gravitate towards destinations that offer both, calming retreats and cityscapes: the likes of Indonesia, South Africa and Japan for relaxation and exploration.

You’re from Abu Dhabi but live in Dubai. If someone were to spend 24 hours Dubai, where would you reccomend ? First, I’d take them to Fouquet’s for brunch: a touch of Parisian chic with Burj Khalifa views. I’d then take them to Alserkal Avenue, where there are so many di erent cultural and interesting events and activations taking place – from a pottery class to a perfume creation workshop. I like spending my day performing some kind of movement, so I’d take them to an aerial yoga session.

What Peacefull products would you recommend for frequent traveller? For the constant traveller, I’d recommend all ﬁve of our Peacefull products, as the Hya Centella range features the basics of any skincare routine.

What’s first in your suitcase when you’re packing? The first item in my suitcase is my AirPods Max. I create special playlists for when I travel, depending on the destination’s overall mood. Besides my skincare, I cannot travel without a good mascara.

Do you have an in-ﬂight skincare/beauty regime? I do! It starts with cleansing wipes, a hydrating mist, a moisturiser, lip balm, and a sheet mask. I always have hand cream and lip oil in my carry-on.

Which destinations are your favourite when travelling with family? I often use of AI tech to create tailored, interesting itineraries. My favourite family destinations are those that o er educational and entertainment experiences, like London for the British Museum and Harry Potter Studio Tour, Tokyo or Singapore.

Where is a destination that you visited and fell in love with? I fell head over heels for Iceland. Its natural beauty, waterfalls, and landscapes left me in awe. I hiked, experienced their geothermal areas and the Icelandic people were super friendly and inviting.

What’s the most wow hotel you’ve ever stayed in? The hotel that took my breath away was The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa in the Maldives. It’s ideal for those wanting peace and quiet and just lazing around in a hammock over the clear, blue waters.

Where’s on your travel bucket list? My next travel destination is Hong Kong. I’m excited to explore its culinary scene, markets and visit the outlying islands for a much-needed dose of nature.

Clockwise from top:

London’s British Museum; Salama Mohamed; geothermal springs in Iceland; Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue; Peacefull Peptide Eye Cream; the streets of Hong Kong