Where to Have a Luxury Holiday in Europe This Summer

There is certainly no shortage of grand luxury and small boutique hotels spread all across Europe and with so many European and Mediterranean destinations there is undoubtedly an enormous choice when deciding which destination and which hotel to stay in this Summer particularly now when covid-19 travel restrictions have eased throughout the continent.  We have listed a few of the most popular destinations that will offer all kinds of luxury and relaxation coupled with the, longed for, summer sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Majorca

The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, has long attracted visitors to its sun drenched Meditarranean shores and caters for everyone, families, children, teenagers, romantic couples, groups of friends and party seekers depending on where you go. Most of its holiday resorts offer the perfect holiday no matter who you are but there is one in particular on the eastern coast of the island, Playa de Canyamel which boasts a sandy beach and is still relatively unspoilt. Here, you can get away from it all and enjoy a quieter and more relaxing holiday and we have found the place for you to stay and indulge in total luxury at the same time. The Cap Vermell Grand Hotel, which is located in the quiet Cap Vermell valley with soothing views of the ocean and the natural landscape and 5 – 10 minutes away from the beach is built in the style of an old traditional village and offers the perfect five star luxury in its spacious and elegant architecture. And if the finest wellness and spa leisure facilities are not enough for you, you can enjoy the fine dining in several on site restaurants including the Voro restaurant which boasts 2 Mitchelin stars. What other reasons are there to visit this charming, opulent and luxurious remedy to the daily hustle and bustle of life?

Cyprus

Cyprus, the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty and home of the world’s oldest wine,  lies in the easternmost part of the Mediterranean Sea and is famous for the holiday resorts of Paphos, Limassol, Protaras, Larnaca and Protaras all offering visitors the best of Cypriot hospitality in the warm Mediterranean climate. The Akamas Peninsula in the northwest corner of Cyprus, is filled with unspoilt nature, rivers, valleys and waterfalls, and protected flora and fauna including sea turtles that come to nest on these beaches year after year. Deep in the unspoilt surroundings of the Akamas and close to the holiday resorts of Polis and Latchi, lies the Anassa. This charming and luxurious hotel, built into the Akamas hillside above a sandy cove with lavish manicured gardens is where you come to for the ultimate luxurious hideaway. With a selection of plush and elegant rooms, suites and villas to choose from there is no shortage of luxury in this Mediterranean idyll. An array of bars and restaurants set in tranquil surroundings of nature with magnificent views, offering the finest wines, spirits and cocktails and some of the best gastronomic culinary delights in the region, you have plenty of fine wining and dining to be getting up to here. And no mention can be made of Anassa without including the oh so plush neo classical spa setting which brings you water directly from the sea for all your thalassotherapy spa treatments including sea waterjet spray massages, seaweed polishes and algae body wraps. This is where to come to in Cyprus, for a totally magnificent and luxurious escape in the Mediterranean sun.

Italy

Italy, the land that has given us the art of Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, the fashion houses of Prada, Versace and Gucci, the Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Lamborghini, Gelato Ice Cream and the Pizza. This land, has also gifted us the ideal luxury holiday on the gorgeous island of Ischia. A short ferry ride from the home of the Pizza – Naples –  in the Campanian Archipelago, lies Ischia, the largest and probably the most picturesque island in the Bay of Naples with its forests, rolling hills, rugged coastline and the Aragonese castle. Famous for its natural springs and thermal spas, the island offers a welcoming and relaxed pace of life. Standing proud on a rocky headland, the Mezzatore and Thermal Spa Hotel was built between the 16^th and 17^th centuries by the Aragonese as a watchtower and enlarged in the 18^th century by the Dukes of Rancidello. Since then it has served as a home to Dukes, Barons, famous Italian Scholars and a film director. Today, it can be your home too for the duration of your stay. The main building rests on the ruins of the old watchtower and the guest rooms and public areas are all set within the surrounding pine wood forest. The hotel’s three water therapy pools, with healing properties are fed directly by the island’s thermal hot springs and the island’s volcanic mud is used in spa treatments. The volcanic mud and thermal waters of Ischia are said to be an asset for curing ailments such as respiratory diseases, rheumatism and dermatitis. Ischia is the oldest destination spa in the world and the hotel’s Thermal Centre draws from this heritage. The treatments here are a must for all those that need to relax and recharge. Of course you will experience nothing but the best in food and drink while staying here. The Bar La Torre comes alive for sundowners from where you can watch the sun set over the sea and you have two beautiful restaurants to choose from here, La Torre Restaurant’s cuisine offers regional gastronomic traditions and international cuisine and the Baia Restaurant which overlooks the pool and the bay, captures all the freshness of the sea and the local catch of the day is prepared for you in many delicious ways. The cuisine of the Campania region is preserved and enriched offering up the most delicious treats for you to enjoy.

French Rivera

If you are looking for luxury in the French Riviera, the spa resort of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat takes centre stage in the Cote D’Azur in between Nice and Monaco. Since the beginning of the 20^th century, this resort, located in the verdant peninsula of Cap Ferrat has hosted the rich and famous and has been a favourite holiday destination among European aristocracy and international celebrities. With rich pine forests, a beach, a marina, historic monuments, shops, bars and restaurants this playground of the rich and famous, has fewer tourists than other places along the French Riviera and with its warm Mediterranean climate, remains relatively exclusive and unspoilt. It has been named the second most expensive residential location after Monaco. The Royal Riviera, features a mixture of Art Deco and Neo Hellenic designs in its spacious lounge facing the manicured Mediterranean garden and perfectly blends palace grandeur with the affection of an intimate boutique property. With views of the serene Mediterranean Sea and attention to detail throughout all your needs have been thought of. All rooms and suites are lavishly decorated for your ultimate comfort to reflect the landscape of the south of France in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat style. The hotel’s two restaurants, La Table du Royal and the Jasmin Grill lounge offer the finest of Mediterranean and French gourmet dining as well as gastronomic delights from all around the world. And in true celebrity style, you can completely indulge in pampering yourself in the hotel’s spa which specialises in THALGO marine treatments including facials, massage, body treatments, reflexology, scrubs and wraps.

Portugal

Portugal’s southernmost region, The Algarve is known for the splendid Atlantic rugged coastline full of superb golf courses, whitewashed fishing villages and some the country’ s best sandy coves and beaches along the way over which many a tourist resort has developed. Praia da Rocha, Lagos, Villamoura, Albefeira, Lagos, Alvor and Portimao to mention but a few. There is still an array of natural unspoiled and delightful places to visit and one of these is the village or small town of Porches located in between the resorts of Lagos and Albufeira. This is home to the long standing pottery producers in the Algarve whose pottery is well known around the world and home to the finest wineries and seafood restaurants in Portugal and several beaches to choose from. Set along its rocky coastline, the Moorish-influenced buildings of the Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, above a secluded beach are surrounded by manicured subtropical gardens and this is the place to choose to stay in, in Porches. The hotel prides itself in offering supreme luxury in timeless elegance and style and an unsurpassed range of ultra-luxurious facilities services and amenities in a lush seaside setting. With eight restaurants and five bars to choose from for diverse culinary options, including the hotel’s own Michelin starred Ocean Restaurant, you will not be disappointed with the gastronomic delights on offer. And when you start feeling the holiday over indulgence, there is always the hotel’s EnerGym with the most advanced exercise equipment as well as outdoor yoga classed on offer. Too much work for a holiday? Then retreat to the hotel’s Spa for pure pampering with their range of aromatherapy, and Ayurveda body treatments, facials, body scrubs, wraps and massages.

Europe has a plethora of options for luxury holidays, but the likes of Majorca, Italy, and Portugal are some of the most popular destinations and for good reason. Whichever destination you choose, you can be sure to experience a luxurious and memorable holiday this summer in Europe