This new hotel is like he Hoxton in East London’s Shoreditch – but in clogs with an armful of tulips. he irst of the chain outside the UK, it’s as hip as you would expect, but with eclectic Dutch touches. Made up of ive historic houses next to the Herengracht Canal (above, right), it makes a stylish impression from the moment you walk in – the lobby (below) is all leather sofas, exposed brick walls and photos of the local area. he room to book, he Floral Concept (above let), is illed with vintage furniture and wooden loors, but behind a ‘secret’ wallpapered door, you’ll ind a rainforest shower that’s big enough for two. Has the art on the walls piqued your cultural interest? You’re in luck; you’re a skip and a hop from the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. You’ll also love the area’s artisan feel and cobbled streets, with its mix of vintage and designer boutiques, cool cafés and art hang-outs. Back at the hotel, head to restaurant Lotti for Italian and down-to-earth Dutchiness – think octopus with chorizo and capers – but there’s also a traditional apple pie that screams ‘eat me’. hen it’s to the Up Top bar to knock back a Dom No.5 from the Double Dutch cocktail selection (yes, Dutch courage is necessary), before curing it all in the morning with a Bloody Mary. O A double room costs from £69 per night; thehoxton.com/holland/Amsterdam.
Short Hop hipness The Hoxton, Amsterdam Photo Gallery
Stylbest for… e, seclusion and sailing Peligoni Club, Greece Watersport junkies in search of pampering can rejoice – thrills (and chills) are close to home. Tucked discretely away in north-east Zakynthos, the most southerly Ionian Island, the Peligoni Club, a beach and watersports club with a luxurious dierence. Mornings are calm and ideal for paddle boarding and kayaking, while the aernoon’s sea breeze makes for perfect sailing and windsurng. ere’s no rigid timetable – simply ask for tuition when you feel like it and an instructor will appear, ready to show you the ropes. And novices ditch that fear – all levels of expertise are catered for, and the teaching so good you may soon become a sporting pro.
If you’re looking to push the boat out (literally) rent one of the club’s two classic wooden yachts, Odyssey and Seamoon, for a day on the sea. Watersported out? is place does mellow very well. rough the club, rent one of the 20 nearby villas; they’re all privately owned and unique, scattered along the hillside for maximum privacy. But be warned: even the watersports may not tempt you out once you’ve clocked their sheer fabulousness. Figari (le) is all so pastels with a mix of objects found on the beach, while glossy Assimi (right), with views to Kefalonia, has a Bond-esque vibe, with wall-to-wall glass. O A villa costs from £450 per week, while membership to the Peligoni Club starts at £120; peligoni.com.
Hotel; it’s all about the new Luxury Panorama Suite (above right), with its 180° views across that azure ocean. Wat through netting on to your balcony – with private jacuzzi – where your butler will pour you a glass of bubbly. And do we need to mention the la dolce vita dining? here are nine restaurants to choose from, with our personal favourite, Luna, serving mouthwatering Italian cuisine (we heart the tuna with a pistachio crumb or salt-baked ish of the day). here’s also the gelato bar with 30 choices to salivate over – chocoholics will love the super-indulgent Nutella lavour. hen it’s time to chill out in a hydrotherapy pool in the shiny spa.
O Sardatur Holidays (sardatur-holidays.co.uk) ofers seven nights in the Luxury Panorama Suite from £5,870 per person. Includes transfers and British Airways return ights. luxBest for… ury without the jetlag Hotel Laguna, Chia Laguna Resort, Sardinia Want an island getaway but a) can’t face long- haul ater a manic wedding, and b) don’t want hety airfare eating into that honeymoon fund? his glam Sardinia resort – part of the Chia Laguna Resort in the picturesque Chia in south-west Sardinia – might well be the ticket. It’s impossible to avoid overhearing someone comparing its bluest-of-blue sea to the Caribbean – the shallows so turquoise and as clear as gin-and-tonic. Room choice is a no-brainer at this ive-star.
Honbest for… eymooning with the kids Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel, Portugal If taking your children on honeymoon doesn’t sound like the best of ideas (no kid-friendly pool, no kiddie meals on the menu), then try Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel in Sagres for size; an awesome resort that’s a very doable two-and-a-half hour light away (how many Peppa Pig episodes is that?!). But it’s no wipe-clean hell; this is where Europe’s most dashing couples come to be pampered as their ofspring’s needs are catered to. Forget pokey rooms; you get to spread out in a house – and cook for your clan, should you wish. Pick from a stunning village house, a townhouse with views across the Sagres peninsula, or an award- winning luxury villa.
As for the pools: there are ive, including one equipped with slides and inlatables. here’s also a crèche (from six months), and kids’ clubs for all ages, as well as a truly bonkers range of activities – windsuring, horse riding and diving to name but a few. While they’re kept busy, you can unwind in the bar complete with VW camper van (right), before heading to the spa to eat carpaccio to your heart’s content. Or laze in your villa without any interruption from those small people… O A one-bedroom house costs from £158 per night, self-catering; martinhal.com.
