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Making the short hop over to Greece’s remote and rugged Peloponnese, IAB Travel profiles The Romanos, A Luxury Collection Resort that’s part of the exclusive Costa Navarino development.

ESCAPE TO THE ROMANOS, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT

If you’re looking to escape to somewhere authentically Greek – where the beaches are golden and sandy, the food rich in locally grown vegetables and olive oil, the people friendly and welcoming – you’d be on the right track with a stay at the The Romanos, A Luxury Collection Resort at Navarino Dunes on Greece’s unspoilt Peloponnese. The Navarino Dunes, the first area to be developed in Costa Navarino, opened to great acclaim in 2010 and incorporates a range of accommodation options, excellent facilities and a stunning location overlooking the Ionian Sea – it’s no wonder it’s a favourite with Infinity & Beyond Travel clients. Preserving the area’s physical charm while offering an array of services, The Romanos’ architectural design incorporates the region’s traditional construction styles, such as over 5,000sqm of planted roofs in order to help the resort blend into the landscape and optimal use of sunlight through landscaping and natural shading.

YOUR OWN PRIVATE PALACE

One of the highlights of staying at The Romanos resort is the accommodation: there are no high-rise blocks here. Instead, elegant and palatial villas incorporate high ceilings and sleek architecture to provide a feeling of space, with influences from ancient Greece adding interest to the neutral palette of colours. Greek key patterns adorn the walls, views of the Ionian Sea are framed in softly draped curtains and elements of marble take influence from the region’s history, inspired by Messinia. We’d recommend choosing one of the Infinity Rooms to make the most of the views with a private pool overlooking the tranquil turquoise Ionian waters. Couples seeking a romantic getaway will relish the sleek interiors of cream marble and dark wood, a modern slant amid the ancient olive groves that blanket the surrounding countryside.

A FEAST FOR THE SENSES

IAB Travel particularly loves The Romanos’ culinary offering, which ranges from traditional Greek classics to a relaxed barbecue area where you can grill your own dishes. The resort is designed to resemble an ancient Greek village, with the Agora at its heart – just like in an actual settlement. Here you can browse the restaurants as you would in any town or village, with over 14 to choose from including a burger bar, Italian fine dining and a Lebanese restaurant. Greek mezze is one of the highlights of the country’s traditional cuisine – you’ll find this at Kafenio restaurant, while the Taverna offers a variety of regional specialities and Flame serves up classic grills with a view. For a dinner to remember, stroll down to beach restaurant Barbouni just before sunset and dine on freshly-caught fish as the sun slips below the horizon. Whatever you’re in the mood for, chances are you’ll find it at Navarino Dunes.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

The Romanos, Costa Navarino in Greece is located in a spectacular setting. The area is unspoilt and naturally beautifully, with rolling hills spotted with thousands of regimented rows of olive trees, and clear, cerulean waters hiding plenty of treasures to spot under the waves. Hiring a car offers one of the best ways to explore the area, with narrow roads unfurling like ribbons across the peninsular – ideal for exploring with a picnic. Nearby you’ll find two beautiful beaches, including Voidokilia Beach – named as one of the most beautiful in the world – and Finikounda, a swathe of golden sand on a stretch of unspoilt coast. The region’s rich cultural history is woven like a tapestry into the folds of the hills and cliffs of the Peloponnese, and The Romanos is the perfect base for exploring. Within easy reach you’ll find the magnificent ancient city of Messini, its fortifications stretching some 9km – an example of some of the best-preserved in Greece. Just 15 minutes’ drive away is picturesque Pylos village, its whitewashed walls and terracotta roofs the perfect example of Greek architecture, and if you’re looking to explore further afield you’ll find Ancient Olympia less than two hours from the hotel.

AMONG THE OLIVE GROVES

The region of Messinia is rightly famous for its plump, delicious olives, and its glossy, peppery extra virgin olive oil. All of the oil served at the resort comes from the local region, and during your stay you can learn more about the lifeblood of Greece on an olive oil tasting at the hotel. Discover how it’s harvested, why you should never store it in clear plastic bottles and join a local expert in a culinary journey through the subtle flavour variations of different oils; stay in the autumn and you could even participate in the harvest itself. If you’re an avid fan of Greek cooking then consider the resort’s culinary classes too, hosted at the homes of local villagers who are willing to share authentic family recipes – everything from pasta and potato dishes to fresher-than-fresh Greek salads, known as horiatiki.

WE LIKE:

• Two signature golf courses
• Part of the exclusive Navarino Dunes resort
• Dedicated wellness area
• Secluded Peloponnese setting
• Award-winning architecture

To read more about The Romanos, Costa Navarino take a look at the hotel page here 

Escaping the cold and rain for a good dose of winter sun, IAB Travel visits One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai, a stunning resort in the heart of the action that provides the perfect base for luxury living.

ESCAPE TO ONE&ONLY ROYAL MIRAGE

Dubai is a city famous for excess: the tallest building, the most luxurious hotel, a ski slope on the cusp of the desert. Such excess may be thought of as a little too much, but not at One&Only Royal Mirage, which manages to perfectly straddle the line between luxury and the superfluous. In this oasis of calm on a wide swathe of white sand by Jumeirah Beach, your every need is taken care of in the most understated way. This is a hotel where service is paramount, and staff are trained to respect your privacy in the most discrete way.

THREE HOTELS, ONE MAGNIFICENT RESORT

Depending on how you wish you travel, and who you’re spending your holiday with, the luxury resort One&Only Royal Mirage has the perfect place to stay. The resort is made up of three hotels, each with its own distinct character. The Palace offers a true taste of Arabia, with tinkling water features and beautiful gardens; the accommodation is spacious, and facilities cater to everyone, families and couples alike, with a watersports centre, kids’ club and swimming pools. Arabian Court is a fantastic choice for families, with 90% of the rooms being interconnecting and with three excellent restaurants it’s also perfect for foodies. Residence & Spa at One&Only Royal Mirage is the most luxurious choice of the three, providing extremely private rooms and suites, a dedicated and discrete staff and private restaurant and lounge.

BEAUTY AND THE BEACH

One&Only Royal Mirage has one of the best location’s in Dubai, set on Jumeirah Beach overlooking the bay of Palm Island and, at night, the twinkling skyline of the marina. You won’t have to share your patch of sand with many others, as the resort has its own one kilometre private beach – a soporific strip of soft white sand that invites all those who stay here to collapse onto a comfortable lounger and laze a while. On your way back to your luxurious accommodation you can wind your way through 65 acres of landscaped gardens, stocked with exotic plants and shaded by towering palms.

A FOCUS ON WELLNESS

If you’re travelling to Dubai to relax and unwind, the extensive facilities at One&Only Royal Mirage luxury resort offer the ultimate destress opportunity. The opulent exteriors provide a tantalising glimpse of the luxury that goes on inside: towering domes, swooping arches and intricate design elements reflecting the architectural styles and great buildings of the region in some 1,800sqm of space. Enter the Health & Beauty Institute through an elegant courtyard and take advantage of one of Dubai’s most exquisite spas on your doorstep. Set among the looming palm trees and enticing pools, there are 12 private treatment suites – including a suite by CARITA Paris – where you can indulge in a wide array of holistic treatments spa experiences. Choose a full body programme including exfoliation, mud wraps, massage and aromatherapy, followed by a beauty treatment to have you looking and feeling your best: book a manicure at the Mani:Pedi Cure Studio by Bastien Gonzalez or a blowdry at the Hair Salon by Alexandre Zouari.

ON LAND AND UNDER THE SEA

As well as the exceptional spa, One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai has a dizzying array of facilities to keep even the most active of families and couples occupied. The one-kilometre long beach is home to DRIFT Beach Club, where you can pose poolside and enjoy the views of the beach and skyline while drinking cocktails created by expert mixologists and dining on classic Provencal cuisine. There are 16 restaurants, lounges and bars to choose from, including Moroccan specialities at Tagine and delectable Mediterranean dishes at Olives. Activities are also plentiful: on land you can choose from golf and tennis, or any number of excursions such as classical music concerts to polo. The watersports offering is also very impressive, with the chance to try sailing, kayaking and water-skiing. One of the highlights of staying at One&Only Royal Mirage is the access to Aquaventure Waterpark, one of Dubai’s most famous attractions. The resort offers a complimentary shuttle service to the park, as well as the Mall of the Emirates, both located nearby.

WE LIKE:

• One kilometre of private beach
• Palm Island Bay and Marina skyline views
• Wellness and waterparks access
• Brand new beach club
• 16 restaurants, bars, lounges and a nightclub

To read more about One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai click the links below.

For the The Arabian Court click here 
For The Palace click here
For The Residence & Spa click here

CHECKING IN: CARLISLE BAY

In our next instalment profiling the world’s greatest hotels, IAB Travel travels to Antigua and the luxury resort of Carlisle Bay, sophisticated haven of seclusion where nothing is too much trouble, whether you’re a bookworm, film buff or sailing fan.

ESCAPE TO CARLISLE BAY

With 82 beautifully furnished rooms and suites, Carlisle Bay is one of Antigua’s most luxurious hotels. Traditional Caribbean décor has been overlooked in favour of a neutral palette and uncluttered style, where cream linens, polished dark wood furniture and contemporary designs are the order of the day. When the hotel opened in 2003 it set a new – much higher – standard in Antigua, which many hotels around the Caribbean have followed. After a recent refresh it’s looking better than ever, which may be why so many guests return year after year, though a string of international awards for service and membership of Leading Hotels of the World also helps.

CARIBBEAN CALLING

One of Carlisle Bay’s best bits is its location: tucked away in a discreet cove on its own beach on the island’s south coast. Being isolated, you can be sure that privacy is paramount, however there’s plenty to do nearby if you venture out of the hotel. One thing that will keep you locked to your sunlounger, however, is the beach that gives the hotel its name. It’s bagged one of the best on the island, sheltered from strong waves and backed by a wide crescent of talcum-powder soft white sand, with a shady thatch of green wooded hills providing shelter from the sun. Despite its seclusion, the hotel is a mere 40 minutes’ drive from the international airport, and just 15 minutes from English Harbour, the heart of Antigua’s sailing scene. The hotel sticks to its roots by allowing some of its West Indian heritage to shine through – in a chic, contemporary way in keeping with the rest of the hotel, of course.

SAIL AWAY

If you’ve come to Antigua yearning for a slice of the sailing action, Carlisle Bay Resort is the perfect place to start. The hotel offers complimentary non-motorised watersports – including sailing – so whether you’re a total beginner or know your tack from your jibe, taking a sailboat out on the water will get you that little bit closer to your dream. There are regular and free sailing clinics for total novices, so it’s worth noting when these are if you’ve always wanted to learn how to sail, or if you’ve got kids looking to try new skills – the shallow waters and sheltered cove of Carlisle Bay is great for learning, and mastering a hobie cat can be done in a few hours. The hotel’s latest purchase is a sleek 36-foot Fjord catamaran, available for private charter should you wish to forgo the hard work but still see the island from the water. Ask the experts at IAB Travel about staying during Antigua Sailing Week, when the whole island comes alive.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT

Forget gaudy talent shows and steel bands of Caribbean resorts in the past – Carlisle Bay Antigua offers entertainment of a very different class. Inside the hotel you’ll find a well-stocked library packed with tomes of all different genres (plenty suitable for sunlounger dreaming). The hotel’s impeccable style has even extended to this corner of the resort, where fibre optic lighting and Perspex bookshelves create a soothing place to select a few novels – you can leave your Kindle at home. If you prefer your entertainment on a rather larger screen, next to the main pool you’ll find a 45-seat private screening room, which shows a range of films to suit all ages. The navy blue seats are squashy – just right for settling in for a few hours to watch a classic movie – and you’ll be given an endless supply of popcorn to snack on throughout. Outside of the resort you’ll discover plenty of attractions which the concierge can arrange for you – from visits to Stingray City to zip-wiring through the nearby rainforest.

TASTES OF THE BEACH

Four restaurants at Carlisle Bay Luxury Resort ensures that you’ll never need to venture far to enjoy a delicious meal. The food here is of an exceptionally high standard, while service is relaxed with a little bit of Caribbean charm thrown in. Indigo On The Beach is the hotel’s family-friendly all-day dining venue, with no walls meaning cooling breezes keep temperatures at a comfortable level. There’s also an Asian-fusion restaurant – called East – which is an intimate affair, serving menus that offer an authentic taste of the Orient. Sit poolside and dine on Italian flavours at Ottimo!, or head to the Jetty Bar and Grill for fresh fish and grilled meat – this is at the furthest end of the beach and is adults only. Carlisle Bay is a luxury hotel that likes saying yes, so if you so wish it can arrange private tables set at the end of the jetty, on the beach or in your room – just ask, nothing is too much trouble.

WE LIKE:

• South-coast serenity
• Complimentary non-motorised watersports
• Simple Caribbean sophistication
• 15 minutes from English Harbour
• Private 45-seat cinema

To read more about Carlisle Bay take a look at the hotel page

The grand dame of Barbados’ luxury hotel scene is next in our profiling of the world’s hottest hotels: IAB Travel welcomes you to Sandy Lane.

OVER 50 YEARS OF HISTORY

Often referred to as the Caribbean’s ‘most glamorous resort’, Sandy Lane Resort Barbados has been sweeping lucky guests of their feet since 1961. Once a grand sugar plantation, the resort started life as the only truly elegant hotel in the island chain before many new hotels sprung up, hoping to imitate her success. Few managed, and despite a three-year closure and a total rebuild, the new Sandy Lane managed to retain all of her original ambience, preserving her charm and adding a host of extraordinary features, such as an underground engineering plant to accommodate all of the behind-the-scenes services and two golf courses designed by golfing Hall of Fame architect, Tom Fazio.

COLONIAL COOL

Sandy Lane’s warm Barbadian hospitality is beautifully mirrored in its quaintly colonial surroundings. Hallways and foyers lined in marble provide a shamelessly flashy introduction, with highlights of coral rock adding a splash of colour. Rooms are plantation style, with marble bathrooms and gently whirring ceiling fans – not detracted from by the vast array of gadgetry that controls everything from the curtains to messages to housekeeping. With nine different room types, Infinity and Beyond Travel can help you decide on the perfect accommodation to suit your tastes. The 47,000 square-foot spa is a gloriously ostentatious affair, the marble reception area accessed by a dizzyingly symmetrical double staircase with Romanesque swags. Each of the treatments is fabulously appointed in granite and cherry woods, and outside there’s a tranquil private landscaped garden with hydrotherapy pools and gently tinkling fountains.

GOLD STANDARD SERVICE

If there’s one thing you can count on for authenticity its Sandy Lane Barbados’ impeccable service, unchanged since it opened in the golden age of travel. Many of the staff have been with Sandy Lane for years, and know all the ins and outs of the property and their island. Exceptionally well trained but refreshingly human, you’ll not want for anything – the staff are genuinely committed to ensuring you’re having the time of your life.

TEEING OFF

Sandy Lane’s trio of greens offers some of the best golfing in the world; as golf courses go, these are definitely up there with the most spectacular situations on the planet. Set on the coast and planted with lush flowers and verdant trees, the golf courses have the perfect backdrop for a round with family or friends. There are three courses to choose from, depending on your preference and ability. The showpiece course is the world-renowned Green Monkey, designed by golfing architect Tom Fazio, carved from an old stone quarry. This course is exclusive to Sandy Lane: 72 par, 7,343 yards long, with a jaw-dropping setting with exposed rock faces that provide a dramatic contrast to the immaculate, rolling fairways. Fazio also designed the resort’s Country Club golf course, set around five lakes with precision-cut fairways, offering a challenging 72-par, 7,060-yard journey with beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea. As the setting for the 2006 World Golf Championships-Barbados World Cup, you can try your luck around a top-class course. The resort’s last course is the famous Old Nine, constructed in 1961 with a gently meandering course through the Sandy Lane estate. At 3,345 yards long at par 36, the Old Nine is shorter yet technically challenging with small greens and tight fairways. On site you’ll also find a pro shop and the Country Club Restaurant, for the ultimate convenience. If you’re looking for amazing golf in Barbados, you’ve found it here at Sandy Lane golf – just ask your concierge at Infinity & Beyond Travel to arrange your tee time.

TRULY TRADITIONAL

Pampering is the order of the day at Sandy Lane. Comfortably cossetting, lavish luxury: the hotel is a study in opulence of the highest order. If you like your bathrooms marble, swimming pools multi-terraced and lined with loungers as wide as queen-size beds, with the opportunity to spot stars of the stage and screen on your winter break, Sandy Lane Barbados is the place for you. Its elegant colonial style is as traditional and unchanging as they come, perhaps why so many fans have returned year after year to relax on its spotless crescent of golden sand. Traditions are there for a reason, after all. Service has been refined over its 50-year reign as the island’s most gracious residence, though one of the finest examples of Sandy Lane’s unwavering commitment to tradition is its exquisite daily afternoon tea. Served from 3pm until 5pm on the spacious lower terrace under the shade of lofty mahogany trees, enjoy a selection of speciality loose leaf teas, homemade scones and tiny pastries. The spread includes the daintiest finger sandwiches, famous coconut cake and a glass of Laurent Perrier Brut, if you feel like indulging.

WE LIKE:

• It’s a true golfing great
• Impeccable service
• The daily English afternoon tea
• Beach beautiful
• The 7,500 square-foot swimming pool

To read more about Sandy Lane take a look at the hotel page

In the first of our series about the world’s greatest hotels, IAB Travel profiles Amilla Fushi Resort, an island hideaway that’s shaking up the Maldives with its sleek, minimalist styling and ‘anything goes’ attitude to dining.

ESCAPE TO AMILLA FUSHI

Amilla Fushi is not your typical Maldivian resort. Before Amilla Resort Maldives’ opening (to great fanfare) in 2014, tiki-inspired huts, one-restaurant wonders and Asian-fusion cuisine provided the tried and tested formula for resorts across the Indian Ocean. Then Amilla sashayed onto the scene, all sleek, whitewashed cubist ‘homes’ and an array of dining options, shimmering in the clear-as-crystal waters of a biosphere reserve. Amilla Resort doesn’t just ask you to relax, it makes it impossible for you not to. Whether that’s with spa treatments (you get a 50-minute complimentary treatment within your first 24 hours to ensure optimum decompression) or through working up a sweat in the gym, on the tennis courts or at the yoga pavilion.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF MONDAY BLUES

As with all properties in the Maldives, Amilla Fushi luxury resort is centred around the Indian Ocean. An expanse of deep cerulean with the clarity of good gin, you can snorkel with turtles, sharks and manta rays and experience the incredible visibility and variety of marine life that the Maldives are famous for. Divers of all ages and abilities will relish the opportunity to dive in the surrounding UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, with a resident marine biologist who will escort you to underwater caves in the house reef and impress you with her knowledge of the underwater residents. As well as the usual diving excursions, you might one day find yourself dropped with snorkelling equipment on an uninhabited island surrounded by delicate coral, with an invitation to explore at your own pace. On the way there, you might even be joined by a school of dolphins, skimming alongside your boat like a welcome escort.

OVERWATER LIVING

If you’re looking for a stereotypical Robinson Crusoe-style thatched villa, you won’t find it at Amilla Fushi Resort Maldives – and it’s all the better for it. Instead of beached timber and the gentle flutter of palm-thatched huts you’ll find sharp, chic homes like blocks of sugar – as white as the beach they rest on. Some are set on stilts over that impossibly blue ocean, others languish on the sand. They wouldn’t look out of place in the Hamptons, and yet they look perfectly at home on a paradise island in the Indian Ocean. Book through Infinity & Beyond Travel and we can advise on which of the 10 different ‘homes’ or ‘residences’ to choose from, depending on your needs. All overlook the lagoon, with either direct ocean access or just a few steps of velvety sand between you and the sea. Alternatively, you could opt to stay in a treehouse, set 12 metres high in among the swaying island foliage. Butler service ensures you’ll want for nothing, and the multi-bedroom residences are gloriously luxe, with spa treatment rooms, saunas and gyms.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Eating out at most Maldivian resorts usually means rotating your choice of evening restaurant every few nights – great if you love a routine, not so handy when you’re a ‘variety is the spice of life’ kind of person. At Amilla Fushi Resort you’ll be spoiled for choice. Elegant overwater dining can be found at Lonu, a fine-dining establishment helmed by Luke Mangan (ex-Michel Roux). A mix of a la carte and degustation menus ensures you’ll always have something new to choose from, even if you’re veggie or vegan. Maldivian cuisine is celebrated here, think oysters, lobster, yellow-fin tuna sashimi and fish from the reef – you can even catch your own dinner and choose how you’d like to have it served to you: steamed one day, crispy battered with chipotle mayonnaise the next. If you want to pick up your own dinner, head to the General Store with its coffee shop and 8,000-bottle wine collection. And if it’s ease you’re after, the Bazaar has a tapas bar, grill, pizza parlour, salad bar and the poshest fish and chip shop this side of Whitby. The pool menu has to have the most upmarket menu of any swimming establishment, including the quintessential club sandwich, caviar and wagyu beef burgers.

FIT FOR FAMILIES

Amilla Fushi Luxury Resort Maldives might just be the most family-friendly resort in the atolls of the Maldives. There are baby monitors in each residence, language lessons in local Dihevi, and the kind of kids’ menu that inspires even the fussiest palates. Most importantly: nannies are free of charge. That’s how committed Amilla Fushi Maldives is to making families feel as comfortable as possible during their stay. So if you want to slip off for a massage together, enjoy dinner under the stars or an afternoon on a deserted beach for just the two of you, you can rest assured that your little ones will be properly looked after while you’re gone. The Kids’ Club is set in a shady spot under tall trees, with a playroom to satisfy even the shortest attention span and a special kids pool that’s shallow and safe. This is not your normal kids’ club, however: the swings are made from palm trees, there’s finger painting and beach games, billiards and a separate teen area with a juice bar. Kids will love the big terraces in the ‘homes’, and you can ask your smiling butler to arrange a family barbecue with sushi platters, big salads, meat, fish and desserts. Ask and it shall be done.

WE LIKE:

• Modern Maldivian style
• Butler service as standard
• Exceptionally family friendly
• Innovative dining
• Did we mention the 8,000-bottle wine cellar?

To read more about Amilla Fushi take a look at the hotel page