New Openings 

Greece:

This season Daios Cove Luxury Resort and Villas, Crete, has opened The Mansion - an exclusive three-bedroom villa, which comes complete with indoor and outdoor heated pools, staff quarters, fully equipped gym and in-house spa with Starpool steam bath, sauna and treatment rooms. The overall space is an impressive 600 square meters of stylish indoor space set over three levels plus 300 square meters of outdoor living.

The resort has also launched 10 new 84-square-meters Premium Sea View Suites for this season, sleeping up to four adults, or two adults, two children and one infant. The Premium Sea View Suites comprise of a master bedroom with a sitting area and an interconnected, large open plan living and dining room with stylish Maxalto Italian furnishings, Nespresso coffee machines and double transformable wall bed from sought-after Italian designer Clei.

Guests staying at both the villa and premium sea view suites will be free to enjoy the facilities of Daios Cove - including the private beach, tennis courts, large heated infinity pool, water sports, elegant restaurants and chic cocktail bars.

Contact: http://www.daioscovecrete.com/ 

Rwanda:

Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge, situated next to Rwanda's renowned Volcanoes National Park, is on track to open for guests on June 1, 2017. Comprising just six forest villas, Bisate Lodge will offer a luxurious base from which to enjoy an extraordinary gorilla conservation experience and a holistic exploration of this beautiful region.

Situated within the amphitheater of an eroded volcanic cone, the 27-hectare Bisate site is incomparable in terms of its natural splendor, with sweeping views towards the Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno volcanoes. The real generosity of Bisate in the Rwandan context will be the amount of private and exclusive space that surrounds the Lodge, cosseting it in a rare natural landscape brimming with Albertine Rift biodiversity and beauty. Each spacious forest villa will comprise a generous yet intimate combination of bedroom, reception space and bathroom, all warmed by a central fireplace and with breathtaking views out across a private deck towards Mount Bisoke.

Go to http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/about/media-and-press/bisate-lodge-set-to-open-in-rwanda-in-june-2017 

Iceland:

Canopy Reykjavik opened in July 2016 - the first hotel to open as part of Canopy by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide's new hotel brand that redefines the lifestyle hotel category, and in partnership with Icelandair Hotels. Canopy by Hilton currently has more than 20 properties in various stages of development, including Canopy Washington DC Bethesda North, Canopy Hilton Portland Pearl District, and Canopy Dallas Uptown, and will continue to develop through new-build and conversion projects in key urban neighborhoods and vibrant secondary markets around the world.

Canopy Reykjavik is set across six connected houses, joining a neighborhood rich with history, color and life. The hotel team are experts in the area, offering local treats at check-in, along with tips and advice on where to explore. Bikes are provided complimentary to guests so they can explore the city's vibrant streets on two wheels. The rooms and suites are styled in shades of ocean and volcanic rock and have all the comforts a guest will crave.

The hotel features local art throughout, as well as a lush courtyard and evening tastings of local beverages and spirits. Dining at the hotel's hip restaurant Geiri Smart is an experience, with a menu of Icelandic fish, dry-aged meats and local, organic dishes prepared by award-winning chefs. Go to www.canopy.hilton.com/Reykjavik

Dubai:

Luxury hotel group, DUKES COLLECTION, is thrilled to announce the much anticipated opening of DUKES DUBAI taking bookings from early 2017. Situated at the beginning of the famous Palm Jumeirah, it's a highly-coveted location for this five-star hotel. DUKES DUBAI will encompass a quintessentially British feel inspired by its famous London counterpart, DUKES LONDON. The hotel is delighted to be working with a range of the best of British suppliers, bringing these to the UAE for the first time. Spread over 15 floors, the hotel will consist of 506 gorgeous rooms in total. This includes 279 bedrooms of which 64 will be luxury suites, and 20 will make up part of the women-only Duchess floor, plus 227 fully furnished hotel apartments. The hotel will also boast an outdoor infinity pool with dramatic views over the ocean and the hotel's private beach, as well as an atmospheric indoor pool and cocktail bar on the 15th floor.

Go to www.dukesdubai.com

Thailand

For those that want to escape the bustling city life for a few days, brand new to Phuket is Anantara Residences at Anantara Phuket Layan Resort - 15 uniquely designed pool residences on a tree-lined hillside boast panoramic views of Layan Beach and the Andaman Sea. Experience authentic luxury in a modern interpretation of classic Asian design, with exceptional living spaces and incredible coastal vistas showcased by high ceilings and expansive windows, open stairways, sweeping verandas and rooftop elegance. Each exclusive two-story residence offers the space, freedom and privacy to indulge in the ultimate island lifestyle, with a fully equipped kitchenette, barbecue and live-in butler.

Go to http://phuket-layan.anantara.com/residences.aspx 

Anantara Phuket Layan Resort residence master bedroom (courtesy Phuket-layman.anantara.com) 

New Experiences 

Conrad Stay Inspired

Following a successful launch in 2015, Conrad Hotels & Resorts has rolled out the Conrad Stay Inspired initiative across most of its hotels and resorts in 2016, including Conrad Dublin, Conrad Algarve and Conrad Dubai. The Conrad Stay Inspired initiative allows guests to select from one, three and five hour experiences to enjoy whilst staying at a Conrad hotel, curated by the brand's Director of Inspiration, Peter Jon Lindberg (the first role of its kind in the hospitality world). Guests are able to browse and select from a variety of unique and interesting experiences in their chosen location via the Conrad Concierge App, enabling them to really get under the skin of a destination, even when time is limited. The launch of Conrad Stay Inspired at Conrad Dublin coincided with the hotel's refurbishment; an 8-million-euro renovation project which saw the hotel's rooms and public areas completely revamped. Peter Jon Lindberg continues to travel the world visiting Conrad hotels & resort destination, exploring and selecting the best activities to recommend to Conrad guests.

Go to www.stayinspired.com 

Once in a life time Manta Ray experience at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is located only 45 minutes away from Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the protected site of Hanifaru Bay and is the world's largest natural manta ray feeding destination. Now after the launch of the PADI-accredited free diving center guests can snorkel or free dive with up to 100 manta rays at a time in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean!

Go to http://kihavah-maldives.anantara.com/ 

Tivoli Palacio de Seteais: Own a Palace for the Day

The Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, located in the heart of the Sintra Mountains, has created a new and exclusive program for clients, who can now own the palace for a day. The Own a Palace for a Day program provides clients with the chance to journey back in time and enjoy the romanticism of a luxury palace with 18th century neoclassical architecture. A unique opportunity to own a palace of incomparable history and elegance. The Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, with its unparalleled and privileged views of Sintra, has 30 individually personalized rooms which are all exquisitely decorated. The stunning ballrooms with tapestries and frescos of rare beauty feature the local mountains and Sintra's most famous sights, such as Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle.

Go to http://www.tivolihotels.com/en/our-hotels/sintra-hotels/tivoli-palacio-de-seteais/listagens/ver-ofertas-especiais/own-a-palace-for-a-day.aspx?PID=295993&Action=1 

Spa Beauty & Wellness

The Reverie, Saigon launches Haute Ho Chi Minh Shopping and Spa Package

Eat, pray, love? No! Stay, spa, shop. This is the mantra driving a new experience offered by one of the world's hottest new hotels, The Reverie Saigon. The hotel's first-ever package marries a three-hour bespoke shopping experience in one of Asia's most dynamic cities with three spa treatments, in a venue hailed by CNN as one of the world's best new spas, and three nights' accommodation in a Leading Hotels of the World property.

The hotel's astonishing new spa is the pièce de résistance of Haute Ho Chi Minh. The 1,200-square-meter sanctuary consists of 10 treatment rooms and strikes a poised balance between the extravagant and the understated. The tranquil white marble reception area features a spectacular work of art; a majestic mosaic-lined stairway that leads to the stylish treatment rooms above.

The Reverie Saigon offers an astonishing hotel experience, showcasing extravagant, unapologetic European opulence in a storied Asian setting.

Visit http://www.thereveriesaigon.com/ 

Volunteering

GVI

Global Vision International (GVI), a social enterprise supporting critical conservation and community development projects, continues to expand its portfolio of global volunteer programs, all varying in duration and focus. This summer saw the launch of a new Seychelles program - Lemon Shark & Turtle Conservation, a 2-12-week program based on Curieuse Island, a national park and tropical paradise, where volunteers focus on contributing to critical conservations efforts of both the critically-endangered Hawksbill turtles and the Sickle fin lemon sharks, through catch-and-release programs and studying the nesting habits of turtles. Other program updates include a short-term Thailand Coastal Conservation internship, and Alternative Spring Break Marine Conservation program in Mexico where volunteers take on the role of a marine conservationist for a week on the Mesoamerican reef, the world's second largest reef.

Go to http://www.gvi.co.uk 

Island Life

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Barefoot luxury meets unpretentious style at the five-star Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. Recently included as one of the top 10 resorts in the Indian Ocean as part of the Conde Nast Traveler's 2016 Reader's Choice Awards, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island has recently invested $3.2 million in redeveloping its 34 award-winning Beach Villas which re-launched in October 2016. Conrad Maldives offers three different resort experiences spanned across two islands: guests can enjoy the quintessential Maldivian hideaway on tiny Rangali Island while also having access to the facilities of the larger and livelier main island which is linked to it by a 500-meter bridge. The third resort experience is at the Spa Retreat, an over-water destination spa that operates as a resort-within-a-resort. For relaxation, guests can find bliss in the resort's two spas, dine in the 12 restaurants and bars, enjoy an extensive range of excursions, diving and water-sports options, and snorkel the resort's vibrant coral reef which is just steps from the beach.

Go to http://conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/hotels/maldives/conrad-maldives-rangali-island-MLEHICI/index.html 

North Island, Seychelles

Wilderness Safaris' North Island, one of the most exclusive private islands in the world with 11 handcrafted villas, is the ideal place for winter sun and wellbeing holidays. North Island has a dedicated team of professional masseuses and uses natural herbal ingredients foraged from the Island to connect guests to their natural surroundings and the rhythms of Island life. Specialized treatments such as the Barefoot Ritual, the Thalgo Marine Prelude, and the Sunrise Treatment have been created to espouse the Island's holistic approach to wellbeing. North Island has also updated their wedding and honeymoon packages and family offerings this year to make it the perfect destination for any type of winter trip.

Visit www.north-island.com 

Family

Fantastic Kids Club at Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury Resort Marrakech

Royal Palm Marrakech: where both immense luxury and family frolic are guaranteed. With highs of 30 degrees in October and a range of activities lined up to guarantee an amazing time for the whole family, not to mention stunning grounds and six-star luxury, it's an undeniably more tempting option than staying in the UK.

Royal Palm Marrakech is a part of Leading Hotels of the World, and its Kids Club is no exception. Activities range from making souvenirs to take home in the crafts, pottery and painting workshop, to oriental dance and mocktail classes. Children can also take a dip in the heated pool, or work on their serve on the mini tennis courts. Supervised by expert friendly staff and free of charge, the Kid's Club is open from 9am until midnight daily.

Go to http://www.beachcomber-hotels.com/hotel/royal-palm-marrakech