5 of Europe’s Best Kept Secrets

We all search for that one holiday destination that no one knows about, that can become our own piece of private paradise. While this task is so much more difficult than it sounds, we have found a few hidden gems in the luxuries of Europe that define what it is to be five star.

SEASIDE GRAND HOTEL RESIDENCIA

Gran Canaria’s beautiful views and climate make for a perfect summer getaway, especially when it has this incredibly private and luxurious hotel to offer. The Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia is Gran Canaria’s only member of the prestigious “Leading Hotels of the World”, and it really earned its title. Positioned in a quiet, remote area with spectacular mountain views, the Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia neighbours Maspalomas beach and the famous sand dunes of Gran Canaria. The hotel was designed by the famed interior designer Alberto Pinto, making for a deluxe and contemporary aesthetic. Aimed to help you get away from the stresses of everyday life, the hotel offers a variety of spa treatments, yoga and Tai chi classes, and brings you daily fruit and newspapers to your room so that you can stay in the loop. What’s more, the hotel prides itself on offering a delicious a la carte menu made with fresh local ingredients, so that no taste bud is left dissatisfied.

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BELMOND REID’S PALACE

Ever pictured yourself drinking tea on a terrace where Winston Churchill once sat, or walking on the lawn that George Bernard Shaw once learned to tango on? (It is not compulsory to tango here, do not panic.) Belmond Reid’s Palace has seen a tremendous amount of influential and famous people come through its doors, and the reason for that is the excellence it continues to exude. On the cliffs overlooking Funchal Bay in Madeira, the palace could not be more idyllic. The traditional, timeless architecture is reflected in the design, with original Anglo-Portugese furnishings and hand-carved wooden antiques peppering the pastel-toned rooms. The hotel overlooks the Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and has incredible gardens with an abundance of tropical flowers and plants that sit at home in the sub-tropical climate. The hotel’s best feature is the pool that is built into the cliff at sea level, truly immersing you in the environment around you.

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HOTEL METROPOLE MONTE CARLO

Also no stranger to the history books is the Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo, which, due to its opulent and prestigious reputation, saw droves of the rich and privileged of the 19th Century head there for some time in the sun. It seems that while time has passed, its reputation hasn’t faltered, and the Hotel Metropole is still as glamorous and extravagant as it has always been. The decor is very much traditionally Victorian, with heavy floral fabrics throughout, which combined with the contemporary, racy Monte Carlo setting makes for quite the time warp. The hotel’s cuisine fuses traditional flavours with modern Japanese dishes, blending youth and wisdom together perfectly. The Hotel metropole really has mastered the art of merging the old with the new, and they do it with style.

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FOUR SEASONS HOTEL ISTANBUL AT THE BOSPHORUS

The Four Seasons at the Bosphorus is a hotel that was once a 19th Century palace, and has the most amazing waterside location. Sitting on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait, the hotel has an urban, contemporary aesthetic that utilises Ottoman design details and modern furnishings. The yachts that pass the hotel are perfect for lusting after, or if you take a wander through the neighbourhood, it offers some old school jazz clubs and luxury shops for those who want to explore what is on their doorstep. The rooms are either overlooking the strait, the gardens or the beautiful city of Istanbul, and the hotel’s spa has a sky-lit indoor pool that is breathtaking. And we know how you Gentlemen are without your morning caffeine, which is why the complimentary daily morning coffee, tea and muffins will make this the holiday that thought of everything.

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HOTEL MONTE MULINI

Croatia may not seem like an obvious choice for a luxurious summer getaway, but it really has some beautiful spots to offer. The nearest town to the Hotel Monte Mulini is that of Rovinj, which is characterised by it’s brightly painted houses and narrow village lanes, but this is no indication of the hotel itself. In fact, it’s quite the contrast, with bold modern architecture as it’s main focal point. The Hotel Monte Mulini is set into a hillside, and is spread luxuriously over four different levels. The lowest of these is a traditionally styled wine vault, and the floor above that is made up of spacious terraced areas that are ideal for relaxing or fine dining on a warm evening. The panoramic glass walls boast an incredible, uninterrupted view of the Adriatic Sea, which can also be admired from your room’s balcony, as every room is sea-facing. The internal spa offers incredible treatments; highly recommended is the caviar or gold leaf therapy. One for the foodies too, traditional Croatian gastronomy awaits in the form of gourmet local seafood.

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