Château Saint-Martin & Spa: A perfect Relaxation Hideaway

Looking for a perfect place to relax, unwind, and recharge your tired mind and body? Château Saint-Martin & Spa is the perfect place for you to go and it is also a place set in a very spectacular surrounding rich in history and culture. Ideally situated at the heart of the Côte d’Azur, near the sea, the sumptuous estate of the Château Saint-Martin & Spa overlooks the historical town of Vence. It offers a unique perspective over the Mediterranean coastline. The Côte d’Azur is situated in the far south-east of France and borders Italy. It is in the Alpes-Maritime department and includes the Principality of Monaco. Boasting an international airport, the Côte d’Azur is barely more than an hour’s flight from Paris or two hours from London. It is a land of contrasts with two faces, “sea and mountains”.

A fortified building from Roman times, the Château Saint-Martin & Spa was visited by the bishop of Tours in the year 350 and kept his name. Bequeathed to the Crusaders returning from Jerusalem by the Count of Provence, it became in 1150 the fief of the Knights Templar.

The current building was built and finished in 1936 on the foundations of the former Templar Commandery, perpetuating the legend of the famous lost Templar Treasure. Picturesque and entrancing ruins testify to this ancestral past.

After having restored the Château Saint-Martin & Spa in 1995 and embellishing its surroundings, the architect Luc Svetchine, also responsible for other famous creations (the Fernand Léger museum in Biot, Chagall’s house in Saint-Paul de Vence), has recently carried out more work on the property.

Two clay tennis courts are at your disposal right at the heart of the 14 hectare grounds, you can also have fun with family or friends playing the sociable sport of pétanque, on the hotel’s private court and keep in shape or enjoy a moment of well-being in its state-of-the-art fitness room. Cardio training machines and weight training equipment are available for you which will allow you to follow a fitness and exercise programme during your stay.

The Spa:

Surrounded by nature, in magnificent grounds, on a limestone rock dating back 140 million years, with a revitalizing microclimate, the Château Saint-Martin & Spa provides the ideal conditions of a true haven of peace, a place to recharge the batteries.

The relaxing massages, body and facial treatments lavished on guests in this universe of pure luxury and absolute relaxation illustrate to perfection the philosophy of the Château Saint-Martin & Spa.

Pioneers of the anti-ageing cell therapy, the products and treatments exclusive to the Laboratoires La Prairie are at the cutting edge of international cosmetology. Working exclusively with this prestigious label, the spa stretches over an area of 400m², in an exceptional setting less than thirty minutes from the coast.

Images – Chateau St.-Martin & Spa

Four Seasons Resort in Bora Bora: A Luxurious South Seas Escape

Bora Bora is one of the world’s most famous islands and is the most famous of all French Polynesia’s Leeward Islands. Its great natural beauty, crystal clear waters, rich history and culture made it a favorite travel and vacation destination. And the Bora Bora does not disappoint, famous author James A. Michener called it the most beautiful island in the world.

If you want to visit and experience the beauty and charm of this mystical island, Bora Bora, and would like to do it in style and in utmost luxury and comfort, then the Four Seasons Resort in Bora Bora is the right place for you. The resort boasts of its 121 spacious and comfortable hideaways around the Bora Bora lagoon and its outer beaches, a hundred over-water bungalows perched on stilts above the turquoise lagoon plus the seven lovely beachfront villas along the stretch of a private beach which all overlook the crystal clear waters and have spectacular views of Mount Otemanu.

On this mystical island with its necklace of white-fringed coral islets, Four Seasons elevates the excitement to redefine South Seas escape. Exotic over-water suites, and beachfront villas with pools, immerse you in ultramodern comforts and the spirit of French Polynesia. Culinary art embraces operatic sunsets over the island’s primeval peaks. Introduce your family to sea turtles. Kite-surf across the impossibly blue lagoon. Spirit yourselves away in a spa by the rolling Pacific surf. Surrender to the liberating service of a luxury resort unmatched on Bora Bora.

"The resort is all about bliss: a half-day sail to hidden snorkelling sites; a trip to a pearl farm; an afternoon lounging on the deck of a catamaran." – Four Seasons Bora Bora

Tarpon Key Lodge: one of kind Private Island destination

Tarpon Key Lodge is a one of a kind travel destination perfect for a weekend of fun, relaxation and excitement. It is on a private island and a great place for some family recreation, corporate training or retreat, fishing adventure, or just to experience an unforgettable break. Tarpon Key Lodge is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the breathtakingly beautiful Homosassa River. It is located in a national wildlife refuge and offers a spectacular view from its wraparound deck where sightings of Manatees on their way to Homosassa Springs, Osprey soaring over the water, and Dolphins feeding in the shallows are common occurrence. At Tarpon Key Lodge not only will you experience the best in Florida fishing, but at the same time you will get to enjoy boating, kayaking, and scalloping in the nearby waters. Tarpon Key Lodge is a fully furnished luxury vacation home with three bedrooms and two baths and can accommodate eight persons comfortably.

Area and River

Lodge Exterior and Island

Wildlife

Lodge Interior

Photos: Tarpon Key Lodge

Meteora: The Amazing Clifftop Monasteries in Greece

Meteora is a place of clifftop monasteries in the northwest side of Thessaly (Central Greece) and just beyond the town of Kalampaka in Greece. The name ‘Meteora’ means suspended in the air and the area of Meteora was believed to have been the place where monks settled during the 11^th century. Many tourists visit this amazing place because of the breathtaking landscapes of the area and to be able to experience the thrill and excitement of climbing its peaks. A visit to the Meteora Monasteries in Greece is highly recommended if you want to set foot in a very interesting place of history, art and religion, to personally see a marvel of nature and a place of mystery. Each monastery charges a minimal fee and the monasteries are open the whole year. A dress code is required, wearing sleeveless clothing and shorts are strictly prohibited although there are available skirts and shawls at the entrance for people not wearing accepted attire. During the months of May and June are considered to be the best months to visit Meteora because of the beautiful weather during these times which will allow guests to have a more comfortable and leisurely chance to explore this amazing place.

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

A Paradise Resort in the Maldives

Maldives is known for its crystal clear blue waters, whale sharks sightings and exotic sceneries that calm the senses and relaxes ones mind and body. One luxurious holiday destination in the Maldives is the Diva Maldives Resort, an island resort paradise surrounded by a crystal clear lagoon and miles and miles of ocean in shades of blue and turquoise. It offers a perfect place for swimming and snorkeling, relaxing and basking on its beautiful tropical setting, and is located near the Maldives’ best dive sites and other tourists spots. Guests are set in dhonis, a traditional Maldivian boat and in water villas and suites standing on stilts over the lagoon. All the junior suites have sea view and are located on both side of the island. Each Suite has a bedroom, en-suite bathroom, terrace and private garden area. The water villas boasts of the gentle, shallow waters of the lagoon lap just right in the steps of the Villa, as you sit reading, sunbathing or taking an outdoor shower in complete privacy, or simply gazing at the wonderful expanse of sea or the neighboring islands from your own private terrace. The Beach Villas are as attractive as the Beach Pool Villas, with larger gardens but without individual swimming pools. The west-facing Beach Pool Villas offers sensational views of the lagoon and sunsets. The rooms are all luxuriously furnished and designed with their luxurious en-suite bathrooms. The pool villas are all pure elegance and the extensive use of local wood for the floors and fittings, as well as the Pierre Frey fabrics from Paris, give added luxury and warmth. Each individual terrace is more like extended living space, with its wooden decking and a settee for reading, lounging or simply gazing at the lagoon.

Photos: Naiade, Adelto

The charming and elegant Stoke Place Hotel in Buckinghamshire

Stoke Place Hotel in Buckinghamshire, England is one place that is truly beautiful inside and out. It is a very charming place to wind up and relax, a perfect setting for a vacation to rejuvenate and at the same time indulge your senses at the beauty of a rural English Landscape outside and marvel at the warm and elegant interiors of the hotel inside. Stoke Place's grounds consist of 26 acres of garden leading down to a 6 acre ornamental lake that were designed by Capability Brown during at the height of his fame. The hotel has 29 stylishly designed rooms which can accommodate up to 58 people for aleepng and over 200 for eating and drinking.

Stoke Place Hotel is not only a place of vacation and recreation but can also be a perfect place for people who are seeking to mix pleasure with business as it boasts of its four spacious and elegant function rooms that regularly host conferences, boardroom meetings, exhibitions and other private events.

Stoke Place Hotel is only thirty minutes away from the bustle of London and yet enjoys all the benefits of a rural English landscape. The three storey 'William and Mary' style house was built as a family home in 1690 by Patrick Lamb. Later, east and west wings were added to the building creating a substantial and impressive country house and the infamous talents of Capability Brown turned the surrounding grounds into a quintessential rural idyll.

The charms of Stoke Place weren't lost on Sir George Howard, equerry to Queen Charlotte, who bought the estate in 1764. His descendents called Stoke Place home for another 200 years. Then, the tenacity of the house's next owner, Richard William Vyse, ensured that the house and its grounds, in all their perfect glory, were protected from 'marauders and vagabonds'. The large red brick wall he constructed encircling the house and grounds is now a well-loved feature of the estate. You'll find that within its parameter Stoke Place still retains all those attributes that have caused generations to fall in love with it.

Images: Stoke Place

9 Beaches in Bermuda

9 Beaches Resort in Bermuda is a wonderful place to spend your vacations and have some relaxing and tranquil days in the water and sun. 9 Beaches has crystal clear waters, exciting water sports, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, lovely cabanas, sumptuous foods, and its eco-friendly too. It is also a good place to spend your honeymoon, reunions, wedding, seminars, and other family and group activities. The fresh ocean breezes are enough to make the use of air-conditioning unnecessary although air-conditioning is also available. 9 Beaches boasts of its 84 private cabanas that sit on stilts and all have a view of the Atlantic Ocean. All cabanas have wooden deck floors and those directly over the water have plexi-glass windows in the floor allowing guests to view tropical fishes swim by.

Accomodations/Cabanas

Interiors

The Beach

Images: 9 Beaches