Hotel Hot List: The Art of Escaping Winter
From remote island retreats to palatial city hideaways, these nine hotels have perfected the art of escaping winter.
- Words by: Sophia Baccanello
Seasonal depression is real, no matter what people tell you. Departing the office in darkness for a particularly dismal journey home, that constant frisking of your pockets to check that the trusted umbrella you packed is indeed on your person, and the impending feeling of vitamin D deficiency when you come to the realisation that the sun hasn’t appeared from behind the clouds for a dangerously long time. All this makes even those with the sunniest of dispositions crave a return to the distant memory of summertime. Despite a one-way ticket perhaps being a little ambitious, the world is large enough to offer us a solution to our temperature itch, with a multitude of far-flung destinations that would gladly welcome sun-seekers in need of a pick-me-up. Therefore, we have collated the crème de la crème of properties that have perfected the art of escaping winter, for your perusal. And the temptation may just prove too much for anyone to resist.
Six Senses Con Dao, Vietnam
There is something about Vietnam that cannot quite be replicated. Those who visit are left with something difficult to put into words: the warmth of its people, the richness of its cuisine, and the sensation of being a world away from the one you know. On a tiny archipelago off the southern coast, within a protected national park, sits Six Senses Con Dao, encapsulating that very essence. Framed by sandy beaches, coral reefs and vast stretches of jungle, it strikes the perfect balance between remoteness and accessibility, just a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Designed to resemble a traditional Vietnamese fishing village, its fifty private pool villas and residences are built from reclaimed teak and sustainable materials, each set moments from the pristine coastline.
Here, attention naturally turns towards the island itself: the conservation of endangered green sea turtles, guided trails that lead to the summit of Elephant Mountain, and surfing and snorkelling in waters that make the outside world feel wonderfully distant. It is a place of pure escapism, where the frenetic energy of the cities falls away and the Vietnamese landscape takes the helm, leaving you quietly grateful that such a corner of the world still exists.
NIHI Sumba, Indonesia
In search of a world untouched, and a return to life as it should be experienced, there is perhaps only one place that fits the bill. NIHI, on the remote Indonesian island of Sumba, is just an hour’s flight from Bali, yet feels worlds away from its better-trodden neighbour, largely untouched by the trappings of mass tourism. Across hundreds of acres, there are just twenty-nine villas, where personalised service is paramount and the raw beauty of the beach-and-jungle setting is paired with Sumbanese culture and an almost unrivalled sense of seclusion. Ride native Sumbanese horses along a mile-and-a-half stretch of beach as the sun sets, take an open-air safari drive through the Nihioka Valley, or surrender to traditional healing in a waterside cabana.
That connection to the surroundings extends to the culinary offering, too, with much of what arrives on your plate grown in the resort’s own organic gardens or sourced from the surrounding Sumbanese land and sea. At the heart of NIHI is an intimacy with the island’s exotic energy and extraordinary wildlife, both above and below the water. All that is required is a willingness to embrace a different rhythm of life, one beyond unnecessary stresses and closer to the simplicity of times gone by.
Cuixmala, Jalisco, Mexico
Courtesy Cuixmala, Photography by Davis Gerber
Courtesy Cuixmala, Photography by Davis Gerber
Courtesy Cuixmala, Photography by Davis Gerber
Mexico is vibrant, cosmopolitan and wild, and few hotels capture all three quite like Cuixmala, its vivid terracotta walls rising from the tropical forest. Running alongside five kilometres of pristine Pacific coastline, the 36,000-acre Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve places the hotel firmly at the forefront of eco-luxury, where guests and wildlife exist in remarkable harmony. Lush jungle and coconut palms give way to sweeping savannahs and lagoons, where zebras and crocodiles roam freely, while terracotta dwellings emerge from the greenery like mirages within the landscape. There are 43 rooms spread across three distinct accommodation types, from the original Casa Cuixmala and its bungalows to hillside villas and the traditional charm of the Casitas.
For a hotel so deeply embedded in its surroundings, it is perhaps no surprise that there are three private beaches, each with its own character. Gallop on horseback along Playa Cuixmala as the waves thunder against the shore, retreat to the palm-fringed tranquillity of Playa Caleta Blanca for a massage or boat trip to neighbouring Isla Cocinas, or discover the rugged beauty of Playa Escondida with a sunset picnic. When dinner calls, La Loma offers a fittingly colourful setting, where whitewashed interiors and pops of colour frame sweeping views across the estate and dishes arrive as vibrant as the landscape itself.
This is Mexico in its most untamed form: colourful, playful and gloriously wild.
Zighy Bay, Oman
For a true disruption to normality, Six Senses Zighy Bay on Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula offers something quite out of the ordinary. Set in Dibba-Musandam, the resort occupies a secluded inlet framed by rugged mountains on one side and a long sweep of sandy beach on the other. Arrive by 4x4 over the mountains, or, if you are feeling particularly adventurous, make an entrance by paraglider, descending above the craggy Al Hajar Mountains with the Gulf of Oman stretching out below.
Built around the principles of sustainability and inspired by a traditional Omani village, the resort unfolds through palm-shaded pathways, bicycle-friendly tracks and a mile of pristine beach. A lush organic garden supplies much of the resort’s produce, complemented by a nearby farm in Dibba. With 82 Omani-style pool villas and the award-winning Six Senses Spa, Zighy Bay feels less like a conventional resort and more like an escape to another world, where adventure, seclusion and the natural landscape take centre stage.
The Brando, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
For something utterly extraordinary, exclusive and with a deep respect for the natural world, there is nowhere quite like The Brando. Set on the South Pacific island of Tetiaroa and the brainchild of actor Marlon Brando and hotelier Richard Bailey, the resort has been a pioneer in sustainability since its conception, with more than 4,700 solar panels providing around 60 per cent of its energy requirements, alongside the Tetiaroa Society, its conservation partner. Imagine yourself as Tahitian royalty from times past, with just 35 private villas and one private residence, each set amongst tropical vegetation and moments from the beach, blurring the line between indoors and out.
Indulge in Polynesian-inspired fine dining, or feet-in-the-sand meals accompanied by the musical celebrations of the islanders, offering a glimpse into the community’s heartbeat. At the Varua Te Ora Polynesian Spa, treatments draw on the atoll’s natural surroundings and Polynesian heritage. Beyond the resort, Tetiaroa is a sanctuary in the middle of the Pacific, where crystal-blue waters stretch towards the horizon and extraordinary wildlife thrives. Explore the atoll by kayak, dive beneath its waters or simply surrender to the feeling of being wonderfully removed from the world. The Brando is something truly unique: not only a private-island escape, but a place where conservation, Polynesian culture and extraordinary wildlife sit at the heart of an exceptional luxury experience.
The Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco
If you are searching for winter sun without sacrificing a full day of travel to far-flung corners of the world, Morocco offers the perfect in-between: sunshine for the time-conscious. And surely a royal seal of approval is one of the more convincing indicators, making The Royal Mansour, owned by the Moroccan royal family and a member of Leading Hotels of the World, an appropriate Moorish palace to call home this winter. Set within five hectares in the heart of Marrakech, this palatial oasis is a celebration of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, just moments from the bustle of Jemaa El Fna square. Explore winding corridors where vaulted ceilings, intricate plasterwork and carved details appear around every corner, while lush gardens unfold across the estate and an authentic medina reveals something new at every turn. Protected by the walls of the imperial city and with views towards the majestic Atlas Mountains, a stay here revolves around 53 independent riads, each spread across three floors and decorated in its own enchanting style, with shaded patios, traditional lounges and rooftop terraces made for watching the stars. Follow the petal-pink pathways to the Royal Mansour Spa, where a magnificent atrium floods the space with natural light and a menu of restorative treatments awaits, before choosing between four signature restaurants led by renowned chefs.
For a city so adorned with culture, colour and frenzied energy, there is an irresistible urge to explore, yet when it is time to retreat, The Royal Mansour is the sort of oasis one is always searching for.
Carlisle Bay, Antigua
Carlisle Bay Antigua.
Carlisle Bay Antigua.
Carlisle Bay Antigua. Photography by Felix Speller.
In search of a slower way of life, it is safe to say the Caribbean does it best. There is an easy-going sensibility here, shaped by warm hospitality, a deep connection to the natural world and a rhythm of life that visitors cannot help but adopt. Antigua, with enough beaches to fill every day of the year, embodies this spirit, and few places capture it quite like Carlisle Bay. Set on a pristine horseshoe-shaped bay on the island’s southwest coast, the resort is framed by swaying palms and turquoise waters on one side, and untouched rainforest on the other. Recently refurbished and increasingly geared towards travellers seeking a greater sense of privacy, the new suites take a more residential approach, with generous living spaces, bespoke furnishings and refined contemporary Caribbean interiors designed to feel more like elegant island homes than hotel rooms.
It is a place where the whole family can find their own rhythm: adults have time to themselves at Cara Spa, during sunrise yoga or while children are entertained at the kids’ club, before coming together for an afternoon of watersports or an evening film beneath the stars. Here, the Caribbean is not simply a backdrop but a way of life: barefoot mornings, long afternoons and the luxury of having nowhere else you need to be.
The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas
Paradise Island, just off the shores of Nassau, did not happen upon its name by chance; it has earned its namesake. In turn, The Ocean Club has proven itself a worthy resident, with more than sixty-three years of storied glamour and even a starring role in Casino Royale. Of course, it is the pristine white sand and turquoise waters that provide much of the pull, but with just 107 rooms spread across 35 acres, the exclusivity and privacy of the resort are a true hallmark. Surrounded by lush vegetation, the gardens are a beauty in themselves, and it is easy to forget what era you are in as you wander through the Versailles-inspired grounds and cloisters, where tiered landscaping and paths lined with ancient sculptures create a sense of quiet regality.
Exit the watchful palms and retreat to the sanctum of the Versailles Pool, where scalloped parasols and cherry-red chaises line the poolside.
With a further infinity-edge pool and lagoon pool, alongside padel courts, tennis courts, gyms and an extensive spa, the active and the lounger can exist in perfect harmony. There is even the opportunity to steal a little solitude on the green at Ocean Club Golf Course, an 18-hole, par-72 championship course overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Nassau Harbour. As evening sets in, head to the Martini Bar and DUNE by Jean-Georges for premium dining and that all-consuming pinch-me moment, when you realise you have, in fact, found Paradise.
One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius
Mauritius is the tropical island that offers sanctuary from the winter months, and One&Only Le Saint Géran offers a secluded beachfront and lagoon escape in its dry, sunshine-rich climate. Poised intimately between the ocean and lagoon, residences with sliding doors bring the outside in, opening onto lush greenery, blinding white sand and impossibly blue waters. Interconnecting rooms invite the balance of family life, while private villas with their own pools allow for a sense of isolation while keeping everything within reach.
Despite beaches that beckon you to remain horizontal, the hotel invites you to experience the surroundings, whether from above, surveying the Mauritian coastline by helicopter and cruising over the ‘Underwater Waterfall’, or below, through private dives that reveal the island’s eclectic underwater world. Elsewhere, guided market tours and cooking classes offer an introduction to the island’s multicultural character, while big-game fishing aboard the hotel’s 55-foot boat brings you further into the rhythm of life on the water, with the possibility of enjoying your well-earned catch that evening. Back at the hotel, there are countless places to unwind and dine, from over-water seating overlooking the lagoon to cabana-style lounges with chilled Champagne on hand, or wooden terraces looking out across the meandering river. Yet perhaps the greatest pleasure is simply surrendering to the setting: the kind of postcard-perfect landscape that feels almost too beautiful to be real, and all the more wonderful for it.
