CENTURION ESCAPES CARIBBEAN CHARM 2. Bermuda More than just pink sand beaches and knee-high socks, the inimitable isle of Bermuda – ideal for August – continues to encapsulate a timeless sense of an unruffled isle which always rewards further exploration. English afternoon tea, fiestas and rum, fish chowder and stone cottages: Bermuda is an island caressed by the Gulf Stream, a beacon of summer civility before the vast wilds of the Atlantic. ◆ Hamilton BEACH VIBES 3. Mediterranean June and from mid-September in the Med is when the mountains, valleys, beaches and towns are are at the best –hot but not full blistering inferno temperatures. What better times to head to Seven Pines, Ibiza (7pines.com), a brand- new opening for early summer 2018 set on the west side of the island amid hectares of pine forest. The whitewashed suites, located between Cala Conta and Cala Codolar with the island of Es Vedrà as a backdrop, give off an aura of unrushed serenity, perfect as a counterpoint to the unbridled hedonism elsewhere on the island. Opulence of a more historic type awaits elsewhere in the region, nowhere with more flamboyance than the Hotel de Paris ( hoteldeparismontecarlo. com) in Monte Carlo. The Belle Epoque frontage and the miasma of marbled colonnades and crystal chandeliers dazzle Santa Marina, Mykonos and glint in the sunlight. Though, come summer, the best people-watching comes alfresco: the port is just a fiveminute walk away and the streets outside hum with the purr of Ferraris galore. Just west in St Tropez, the private beach at La Résidence de la Pinède (residencepinede. com), the only hotel in the French Riviera that has one, is a calming retreat of talcum soft sand and hilly coastline. With just 36 rooms, the crowds feel a long way away, yet impeccable cuisine couldn’t be at closer hand – with a restaurant overseen by Arnaud Donckele, who trained with Alain Ducasse. For still more privacy, it’s hard to beat Santa Marina ( santa-marina. gr) on the island of Mykonos. Tucked into a hillside on the southern tip of Ornos Bay (the private beach is the only one on Mykonos), the hammam treatments, the two infinity pools and cabana beds, all set amid immaculate splendour, make for a Greek getaway where sun, sea, sand and solitude come together in glorious harmony in early and late summer. ◆ Hotel de Paris, Monaco ISLAND HOPPING 4. Maldives Early summer amid the atolls sees the beginning of the changing of the seasons: the dry heat abating as the wet season begins. Yet hours of blissful sunshine are still guaranteed in July and August as palm trees gently sway and deserted beaches seem to almost cry out for a scattering of footprints. Kudadoo Private Island (kudadoo.com) is a new, and utterly sublime, escape from reality, an adults-only retreat with luxe overwater villas infused with a subtle Japanese sophistication. Mammoth coral reefs swarming with multicoloured fish, making for dream snorkelling and, come sunset, dinner in 5.8, the resort’s own underwater glass restaurant, is an experience that is not soon forgotten. Taj Exotica ( tajhotels. com/maldives), located in a lush easterly atoll, is the sole property on Taj Exotica UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS WITH FINE HOTELS & RESORTS CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM/FHR
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION PALACE HOTEL TOKYO Imbued with understated luxury, sophisticated restraint and subtle Japanese touches throughout, Palace Hotel Tokyo was envisioned and developed as a tribute to design and omotenashi (Japanese hospitality) and is the only Japanese-owned and managed hotel to garner the highly coveted Forbes Five-Star rating – an award recognised worldwide as a prestigious mark of distinction. The hotel’s singular moat-side setting across from the Imperial Palace gardens – a 3.5sq km green space in the heart of the city – delivers an incomparable perspective on Tokyo’s natural splendour, and the skyline that surrounds from every single guest room, its spa and nearly all of its restaurants and bars. Mere steps away is Marunouchi Naka Dori, a tree-lined boulevard tantamount to New York City’s Madison Avenue and London’s Bond Street – a popular dining and shopping destination for foodies and fashionistas alike. For guests wishing to delve into Japan’s culture, the hotel’s original series of “Palatial Pursuits” packages offer bespoke experiences such as art tours curated by Tokyo’s art aficionados, introductions to the city’s epic culinary culture by fascinating foodie personalities, and insights into Japan’s unique cultural nuances by those who know best. 1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Tel: +81 3 3211 5211 palacehoteltokyo.com CALL YOUR RELATIONSHIP MANAGER OR CENTURION TRAVEL SERVICE FOR MORE INFORMATION
