The first thing you notice is the quiet. Not silence — Hanoi doesn’t do silence — but a particular hush that takes hold the moment you step through the entrance of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Ceiling fans turn overhead. The marble stays cool even in the heat. Outside, motorbikes. In here, something that feels borrowed from a different century.
Which is fitting, because a different century is more or less what you’re standing in.

Graham Greene stayed in this building in 1951, working as a correspondent for Paris Match. He wrote The Quiet American here. Somerset Maugham came in 1923 and finished The Gentleman in the Parlour in the parlor — the room, the book title; it was that kind of era.

Charlie Chaplin honeymooned here in 1936 with Paulette Goddard, after they married in Shanghai. The hotel named suites after all three of them. The concierge at the Bamboo Bar will make you a Graham Greene martini, and it’s worth having one just to sit with the absurdity of that for a moment.

From Historic Hotel in Hanoi to

Luxury Hacienda and Wedding Venue in Spain

Inspired by the timeless elegance of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi? Continue your journey at La Esperanza Granada, an award-winning romantic hacienda surrounded by olive groves and mountain views in southern Spain.

DISCOVER LA ESPERANZA GRANADA PRIVATE ESTATE IN SPAIN

The Sofitel Metropole Hanoi: One of Asia’s Most Historic Hotels

The Metropole opened in 1901, built by two French entrepreneurs — Gustave-Émile Dumoutier and André Ducamp — just as Hanoi was becoming the capital of French Indochina. Six dollars a night got you a room, three meals, and the run of what was immediately the finest hotel in the city.

Within a few years it was also the first place in Indochina to screen motion pictures.

For the next several decades, the hotel served as the social center of colonial Hanoi — the place diplomats ate, writers worked, and anyone passing through with money or influence made a point of stopping. The guest list was not subtle: Ho Chi Minh hosted political meetings here. Fidel Castro stayed. Presidents Bush, Clinton, and Trump all came through at various points in history.

In February 2019, the hotel hosted a two-day nuclear summit between the United States and North Korea; Kim Jong Un took an entire floor.

That breadth — colonial French society to Cold War summits to 21st-century diplomacy — is what makes the Metropole unusual. Most historic hotels claim heritage. This one has receipts.

The Bunker Beneath the Bamboo Bar

The war years left a more physical mark. During the American bombing campaigns of 1972 and 1973, the hotel sheltered journalists, diplomats, Joan Baez, and Jane Fonda in an underground bunker below the building.

When the war ended, the bunker was sealed and eventually forgotten entirely. It was only rediscovered in 2011, when engineers renovating the Bamboo Bar jack-hammered through 280 millimetres of reinforced concrete and found a network of flooded corridors and chambers. Baez apparently sang one night while sheltering down there. The hotel has a partial recording. The bunker is now part of the daily Path of History tour.

From Government Guesthouse to Luxury Landmark

After independence, the hotel was renamed Thong Nhat — “Reunification Hotel” — and operated as a government guesthouse. By the 1980s the building had deteriorated badly. Its revival came through an unlikely figure: a French hotelier named Jacques Herbert, who happened to have married the daughter of Ho Chi Minh’s first finance minister. He negotiated what became Vietnam’s first successful joint venture between a foreign company and a local partner.

The Metropole reopened in 1992 under the Pullman name, later passing to Sofitel. In 2009 it became the world’s first Sofitel Legend property.

Two Wings, Two Eras — Heritage vs. Opera Wing

The hotel now has 358 rooms across two buildings that share a courtyard but not much else in atmosphere.

The Heritage Wing — the 1901 original — has dark hardwood floors, louvred shutters, vintage illustrations on the walls, and art-deco marble bathrooms. Meanwhile, the Opera Wing, added in 1996, is neoclassical and considerably quieter, with higher ceilings and larger rooms. Families and people on work trips tend to end up there. People who want to feel like they’re somewhere specific book the Heritage Wing.

About the Coffee a Bartender Invented During Wartime

Le Spa du Metropole was named Vietnam’s Best Hotel Spa at the 2026 Tatler awards. The signature treatment is a Kansu bowl massage, and French skincare lines SOTHYS and Anne Semonin cover the facial menu. There is a heated outdoor pool in the garden courtyard.

The six restaurants and bars include Le Beaulieu, which boasts of serious French cooking, and La Terrasse. The latter is a pavement café where the thing to order is Vietnamese egg coffee.

The Vietnamese egg coffee has its own Metropole origin story. In 1946, with milk impossible to find during wartime rationing, a hotel bartender named Mr. Giang started using whipped egg yolk instead. The result — thick, sweet, served over strong Robusta — is now one of Hanoi’s most copied drinks. You can still get it where it was invented.

What the Condé Nast Traveler Triple Crown Actually Means

This year, Condé Nast Traveler gave the Metropole what it calls the “Triple Crown” — a simultaneous listing on the Hot List, the Gold List, and the Readers’ Choice Awards. Only 396 hotels in the world have achieved all three.

Travel + Leisure has had it on the 500 Best Hotels list for six years running. Neither publication gives those distinctions out lightly, and neither readership is easily impressed.

READ MORE ABOUT THE BEST HOTELS IN THE WORLD IN TRAVELIFE MAGAZINE

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There is a particular kind of prestige that only time can confer.

The Fujiya Hotel understands this instinctively. Nestled in the mountain resort town of Hakone, this storied property has been receiving guests since the late nineteenth century — and it carries that history not as a burden but as a quiet credential, worn with the confidence of something that has never needed to prove itself.

I spent a long weekend in the heritage wing recently, and what struck me most was not the architecture, nor the hot spring waters, nor even the extraordinary dining room — though each deserves its own meditation. It was the atmosphere of unhurried permanence. In an industry increasingly governed by openings, rebrands, and renovations designed to generate coverage, Fujiya simply endures.

A Hotel That Wears Its Age Well

The corridors belong to another century. The woodwork speaks of craftsmanship that contemporary interiors rarely bother attempting. Where a more anxious property might have aggressively modernized, Fujiya has instead exercised the far greater discipline of restraint — refreshing without erasing, maintaining without embalming. The result is a hotel with genuine patina rather than the performative nostalgia that so many new luxury properties spend fortunes trying to simulate.

Those expecting the flawless surfaces of a newly opened resort will need to recalibrate their expectations — and their definition of luxury. The slight softening of edges here is not neglect. It is evidence. Nearly 150 years of guests arriving from Tokyo in search of mountain air and thermal waters have left their mark, and the hotel is better for it.

Dinner: An Occasion Worth Dressing For

The main dining room is the hotel’s undisputed centerpiece. An extraordinary hand-painted ceiling presides over the space, and dinner here quickly becomes something more ceremonial than culinary. The menu is classical and confident — no architectural plating, no twelve-course provocations — just the quiet assurance of a kitchen that knows exactly what it is.

Dress well. Order wine. Resist the impulse to rush.

By the time dessert arrives, you will have remembered something travel can occasionally make you forget: that an evening of simple, well-executed pleasure is among the finest things available to us.

Breakfast at the Imperial Villa: The Quieter Pleasure

The first meal of the day, however, belongs somewhere else entirely.

Across the road from the main building, the former Imperial Villa — managed by the hotel and available exclusively to its guests — offers an experience that serves as perfect counterpoint to the previous evening’s grandeur. This elegant structure once provided summer sanctuary for members of the Imperial Family, and the atmosphere of considered simplicity it cultivated then remains palpable now.

Old photographs and discreet period details tell their stories without demanding attention. A traditional Japanese breakfast taken here, surrounded by manicured gardens and a silence that feels genuinely earned, is one of the more quietly memorable hotel meals I have encountered anywhere in the country.

The Joys of Having a Hot Spring Tap in Your Room

A practical note worth underlining: every guest room draws directly from the hotel’s hot spring source. For international visitors uncertain about communal bathing, this is significant. Privacy and tradition need not be negotiated against each other. Fill the tub, open the window to the cool mountain air, and consider yourself fortunate.

It is a small luxury that proves, by the final morning, surprisingly difficult to leave behind.

A Place That Knows What It Is

The Fujiya Hotel will not suit every traveler. It is not immaculate in the way of a newly minted resort, and it does not aspire to be. Its rhythms are unhurried, its pleasures demand a certain willingness to slow down and meet them where they are.

For those who can, it offers something that money and newness alone cannot manufacture: a sense of genuine continuity with the past, and the rare comfort of a place that has never once lost the thread of what it set out to be.

That is, in the end, a form of luxury all its own.

The Fujiya Hotel: A Brief History

The Fujiya Hotel was founded in 1878 by Sennosuke Yamaguchi, making it one of Japan’s oldest Western-style hotels and among the first to actively court international visitors during the Meiji era — a period of rapid modernization in which Japan was opening itself to the world after centuries of near-total isolation.

Its location in Hakone, a mountainous resort region roughly 80 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, was no accident. The area’s volcanic landscape had long made it a destination for those seeking the therapeutic benefits of its abundant hot springs, and the new railway connections of the era made it newly accessible to both domestic and foreign travelers.

Over the decades, the hotel accumulated a remarkable guest register. Charlie Chaplin stayed here. John Lennon and Yoko Ono were regulars. Several sitting American presidents have been among its visitors, as have members of Japan’s Imperial Family — hence the adjacent Imperial Villa, which the hotel now manages.

The property sustained significant damage during the Second World War and was subsequently requisitioned for use by Allied occupation forces before being returned and restored. A major renovation completed in 2020 addressed structural and cosmetic concerns while deliberately preserving the hotel’s historic character.

Today the Fujiya operates across several wings of varying vintage, with the oldest heritage rooms offering the most direct connection to the hotel’s nineteenth-century origins. It remains privately managed and family-affiliated — a rarity in an industry increasingly dominated by global chains — and continues to occupy a singular place in the story of Japanese hospitality.

READ MORE ABOUT THE MOST UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY IN JAPAN IN TRAVELIFE MAGAZINE

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For decades, luxury travel was defined by scale and spectacle. Grand hotels rose above city skylines. Beachfront resorts stretched across private coves. Marble lobbies, infinity pools and Michelin-starred restaurants became the universal language of luxury.

Yet among today’s most experienced travelers, a subtle shift is taking place.

Increasingly, the question is no longer how luxurious a property is, but how it makes guests feel.

Privacy has become more valuable than prestige. Authenticity often outweighs extravagance. Experiences are prized above amenities. In a world that feels increasingly connected, many travelers are seeking something surprisingly rare: a genuine connection with nature.

LUXURY GLAMPING: THE NEW FRONTIER IN TRAVEL

This desire has fueled the rise of one of the most compelling sectors in contemporary travel—luxury glamping.

Far removed from traditional camping, today’s luxury outdoor accommodations blend immersive natural settings with the comforts and service standards of world-class hospitality. Across Asia, visionary hoteliers are creating extraordinary retreats hidden within rainforests, perched above river valleys, overlooking rice terraces and nestled beside remote beaches.

Guests may find themselves sleeping in architect-designed treehouses suspended among tropical canopies, elegant safari-style tents furnished with handcrafted textiles, or secluded villas where the soundtrack is birdsong rather than traffic.

The appeal extends well beyond novelty.

Luxury glamping offers something increasingly difficult to find in conventional hospitality: a sense of discovery. The environment is not simply the view from the room—it is an integral part of the experience itself.

THE ANSWER TO SUSTAINABILITY AND COMFORT

According to the Asia-Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association, demand for premium outdoor accommodations continues to grow as travelers seek experiences that combine comfort, wellness, sustainability and meaningful engagement with the natural world.

As we move through the remainder of 2026, luxury glamping is emerging as one of Asia’s most influential travel movements—not because it offers less luxury, but because it redefines what luxury means.

GLAMPING BASICS

What Exactly Is Glamping?

The word glamping combines “glamorous” and “camping,” though today’s luxury outdoor accommodations bear little resemblance to traditional camping.

Modern glamping properties may offer:

• Private plunge pools

• Air conditioning and climate control

• Fine dining experiences

• Spa and wellness facilities

• Butler or concierge service

• Architect-designed accommodations

• Exceptional environmental integration

At its best, glamping combines the emotional rewards of nature with the comforts of a luxury hotel.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A Different Kind of Luxury

Do not expect marble lobbies or grand ballrooms.

Instead, expect sunrise through a forest canopy, outdoor bathtubs overlooking mountain valleys, evenings around a fire pit and accommodation designed to immerse you in the surrounding landscape.

Privacy

Many glamping retreats offer more seclusion than traditional resorts, making them particularly appealing for couples, honeymooners and wellness travelers.

Sustainability

Many leading operators place sustainability at the centre of the guest experience through low-impact construction, local sourcing and conservation initiatives.

Connection

Luxury glamping encourages guests to engage with nature, local communities and slower rhythms of travel.

THREE REMARKABLE GLAMPING EXPERIENCES IN ASIA

Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, Bali, Indonesia

Set in the lush highlands north of Ubud, Buahan has become one of Asia’s most celebrated luxury retreats. Its philosophy of “no walls, no doors” creates an extraordinary sense of immersion, allowing guests to experience Bali’s forests, rivers and mountains in a uniquely intimate way.

The adults-only retreat has attracted international recognition for its sustainability initiatives, wellness programming and thoughtful design. Increasingly, it is also being chosen for exclusive private retreats and celebrations by travelers seeking complete privacy in a remarkable natural setting.

Travelife Take: One of Asia’s most influential examples of how luxury, sustainability and nature can coexist.

Visama Explorer Nan, Thailand

Northern Thailand remains one of Southeast Asia’s most underappreciated destinations, and Visama Explorer Nan provides a compelling reason to visit.

Located among the hills of Nan Province, the retreat combines safari-style accommodations with opportunities to experience the region’s rich cultural heritage and spectacular scenery. Outdoor film screenings, campfire evenings and access to traditional Thai Lue communities help create a deeper connection to the destination.

For travelers seeking a quieter, more authentic side of Thailand, Nan offers a refreshing alternative to the country’s more familiar tourism circuits.

Travelife Take: Ideal for travelers who value cultural discovery as much as luxury.

Twinpalms Tented Camp Phuket, Thailand

Not all glamping experiences require a remote jungle location. Twinpalms Tented Camp Phuket demonstrates how luxury outdoor lodging can thrive within one of Asia’s most established resort destinations.

Inspired by classic safari camps, the adults-only retreat combines canvas accommodations, lagoon and beachfront settings, private plunge pools and access to Phuket’s celebrated dining and lifestyle scene.

The result is a glamping experience that feels adventurous yet approachable, making it an ideal introduction to the category.

Travelife Take: Perfect for travelers curious about glamping but unwilling to sacrifice the comforts of a luxury beach holiday.

WHY GLAMPING IS RESONATING WITH TRAVELERS

Luxury glamping succeeds because it delivers something many traditional hotels struggle to provide: a meaningful sense of place.

A guest may forget the dimensions of a suite or the size of a lobby. They are far less likely to forget the sound of rain on canvas, a sunrise over mist-covered hills, or an evening spent beneath a canopy of stars.

For a growing number of travelers, these moments have become the new definition of luxury.

The finest glamping properties understand that luxury is no longer measured solely by amenities. It is measured by experience, connection and memory.

Whether hidden within the jungles of Bali, nestled among the mountains of northern Thailand or overlooking the shores of Phuket, Asia’s leading glamping retreats are proving that the future of luxury travel may not be found in the city skyline, but beneath the open sky.

READ MORE ABOUT LUXURY GLAMPING IN TRAVELIFE MAGAZINE

The post Luxury Glamping in Asia: Why Nature Has Become Luxury Travel’s New Frontier appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

FIRST IMPRESSION OF MILLEN PENANG

When I got out of the car, the hotel’s gold-toned façade drew my gaze. I also noticed a water fountain at the front entrance that looked slightly out of place.

I found myself captivated by the fountain and inquired with the hotel staff about its unique structure. They revealed that this striking fountain is known as “The Mark,” a signature anchor symbolizing the hotel’s artistic identity.

In every property under the Autograph Collection, guests will find a hallmark guest experience unique to each hotel. The staff explained that the purpose of “The Mark” is meant to kickstart conversations (which it did in my case)!

Designed by Malaysian artist Pamela Tan, the Peranakan-inspired ironwork honours the ornamental fountains once found in front of the mansions along the street during Penang’s gilded past.

THE GRAND LOBBY

Stepping into the Grand Lobby feels less like a hotel check-in and more like an immersive entry into a “living gallery“. As an Autograph Collection property by Marriott, it has a distinctive style. -a modern reinterpretation that reflects the neighbourhood’s old-world affluence.

PENANG’S MILLIONAIRE’S ROW

To fully appreciate The Millen, it helps to begin with its setting. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the road on which the hotel stands was the epicentre of wealth in Southeast Asia. Lined with seaside mansions owned by European traders and Chinese tycoons, it was where fortunes were made, deals concluded, and influence flowed across the Straits. Today, this storied stretch—Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah—is still fondly known as Penang’s Millionaire’s Row.

ART AND STORYTELLING THAT INSPIRES

At The Millen Penang, a refined “Colonial contemporary” aesthetic is established with quiet confidence. Black-and-white geometric marble floors and sleek black steel-framed mirrors are used to reference the island’s colonial past. Yet, the overall design is anchored firmly in the present, creating an interior narrative that feels both timeless and contemporary.

Quirky and playful artworks fill the hotel, thoughtfully curated to spark joy. Rather than offering static, museum-like halls, The Millen Penang serves as a living gallery of wit. Guests discover art in passing, ultimately transforming their stay into a memorable, scavenger-hunt-like journey.

Near the entrance, a horse sculpture – Forged in Motion by Aboud Fares stands as a quiet tribute to Penang’s equestrian heritage of the 1800s. Crafted from interwoven iron strands, the horse seems alive in mid-stride, infusing the past with a sense of movement and modernity.

Large-scale paintings punctuate corridors and public areas, creating moments of contemplation. At the lift lobby, Loh Chee Peng’s “The Pixelated Captain“ portrays Penang’s founder Francis Light, A clever interplay of perspective serves as a visual metaphor for the island’s evolving spirit.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

In guest rooms, smaller works are carefully placed to draw attention to subtle textures, colours, and lines, reinforcing the theme of thoughtful, experiential design.

In keeping with the hotel’s “Colonial contemporary” theme, the guest rooms at The Millen Penang feature a beverage cabinet designed to look like a vintage luggage trunk.

This “luggage bar” anchors the room’s storytelling. It evokes the golden age of travel, when merchants arrived on Penang’s shores with lives packed into sturdy, leather-bound trunks. The piece offers a warm, organic contrast to sharp white marble and dark wood floors, reinforcing the “traveller’s sanctuary” feel.

This clever design choice turns a standard hotel amenity into a piece of functional art. Despite its old-world appearance, it is a high-tech “mini bar” housing:

• A Nespresso Vertuo machine for premium coffee.
• A selection of Whittard of Chelsea teas, honouring the hotel’s British-Malayan heritage.
• A temperature-controlled kettle and a built-in refrigerated drawer for cold refreshments.

Inside the “luggage bar,” a pair of whimsical bird sculptures sit beside wine glasses, adding curated charm. These monochromatic, dotted forms contrast beautifully with the room’s sharp industrial lines.

Furthermore, the guest rooms reflect the grandeur of heritage mansions through their generous scale. Ranging from 42 to 142 square meters, these spaces feel remarkably expansive. High ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows maximize the layout, while offering sweeping views of the city or sea.

BATHROOM AESTHETICS AT THE MILLEN PENANG

Marble flooring transforms the bathroom into a luxurious sanctuary featuring a deep, freestanding bathtub and dual vanities. Furthermore, oversized rain showers with premium brass hardware drive the hotel’s vintage-meets-modern dialogue. These expansive layouts feel exceptionally indulgent, especially within the massive 142-square-meter suites.

ROOFTOP OASIS AT THE MILLEN PENANG

Level 9 serves as the hotel’s dedicated wellness floor, where the state-of-the-art gym, infinity-edge swimming pool and in-house spa are located. The swimming pool is a masterclass in urban escapism. Perched above the bustling streets of George Town, the saltwater-treated pool offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. Guests looking to dip or sip can order cool brews, artisanal beers, and light snacks from the Pool Kiosk.

Nut&Meg Wellness Spa honours Penang’s history as a global spice hub. Specifically, therapists incorporate local ingredients like nutmeg and pandan into every treatment. Furthermore, private ensuite suites and rhythmic rituals provide guests with a restorative sensory escape.

Meanwhile, at Blacklinen, skilled chefs transform dry-aged meats and coastal seafood into smoky masterpieces on a charcoal grill. Additionally, a curated wine cellar complements the menu. Together, these elements create a destination where rustic fire meets high-end elegance.

GASTRONOMIC FLAVOURS

Lili on Level 2 offers a refreshing take on modern Malaysian cuisine. This all-day dining restaurant specialises in upscale comfort food. Furthermore, the menu embraces the tradition of shared dining to create a vibrant communal experience.

Mornings at Lili are refreshing with hydroponic greens and premium à-la-carte selections. In particular, the Millionaire Row’s omelette is the undisputed star. This decadent river prawn and crab dish is topped with rich lobster bisque.

This ground-floor lobby lounge Good Society is characterized by high ceilings and delicate botanical accents. A diverse menu of tempting refreshments or signature cocktails is available from 11am onwards.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED STAY

The Millen Penang turns the act of staying into an experience—one that inspires reflection, creativity, and a deeper connection to place. A stay at the hotel will appeal to you if you appreciate design, clever interiors, and the vibrancy of camaraderie. Just a five-minute drive from the famed Gurney Drive, the hotel offers both cultural immersion and effortless access to Penang’s vibrant heart.

The artwork ‘Hotel Exploration’ by Malaysian watercolour artist Penny Tan encapsulates our experience quite succinctly.

“As guests arrive and settle in, they are drawn into the hotel’s many offerings—elegant dining, serene spa rituals, and the timeless allure of its refined interiors. With each moment, the hotel reveals a different facet of experience: from the grandeur of the staircase to the quiet elegance of window views, every space invites discovery, layering the guest journey with curiosity and charm.“

Address: The Millen Penang, 55 Jln Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Website: themillenhotel.com

Images by The Millen Penang. Additional photos by Florence Ang (taken with an HONOR Magic 7 Pro smartphone)

The post The Millen Penang on Millionaire’s Row appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Long before I ever set foot in the Cederberg Mountains, Bushman’s Kloof had already taken hold of my imagination. I remember seeing a photograph years ago — a dinner table floating in the middle of a still lake, bathed in candlelight, reflections dancing on the water like stars. Since that moment, I promised myself that one day I would go there.

When I finally did, exactly four years to the day I threw that wish out into the Universe, it felt like I had stepped quietly into a dream I had once glimpsed. Perched tall amidst the vast expanse of the scenery of the Cederberg,

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat is not a place that dazzles all at once. It reveals itself slowly, layer by layer, in gestures of beauty and stillness. Just under five hours by car from Cape Town, we took the coastal road heading west for Namibia and stayed for several nights in a lovely apartment by the sea. Those happy days of walking by the water, picking shellfish for dinner, were the perfect prelude. They slowed our rhythm, prepared our senses, and made the eventual arrival at Bushmans Kloof feel all the more like stepping into another world.

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BUSHMAN’S KLOOF: A BEAUTIFUL WORLD

When you finally arrive at Bushman’s Kloof, the air feels different. Somehow, it’s lighter and the light deepens into a thousand shades of amber. The aesthetic perfection of the gardens and the grounds does wonders for the senses. Moreover, every moment is beautifully curated — as if invisible hands had arranged the details of each day. Whether it was lunch at the main dining room, where the menu brimmed with dishes personally selected by the owners, or an evening at Cederberg House, the villa where we stayed, everything carried the mark of thoughtful design and quiet passion.

Cederberg House itself was more like the country home of a friend with exquisite taste. It was an exquisite Cape Dutch house with contemporary chintz interiors, terraces that opened up to a private swimming pol, and shelves lined with the kind of assortment of books I love.

“The interiors, the art, even many of the books here were chosen by the owners themselves,” said Martin, as he led us through the living room to the private gardens. Indeed, I could sense how every room was thoughtfully arranged just like in one’s home.

The inspiration for La Esperanza Granada in Spain

Bushman’s Kloof is a luxury safari lodge with so much to do. However the first thing on my mind was rest. I settled into my suite, admired the view, and ensconced myself in a lounge chair by my private pool to paint a watercolor scene of our perfect little world. Nothing else mattered in the golden light of that afternoon, with dramatic hills all around that seemed to hum.

It was exactly here at Bushman’s Kloof, too, that I began to think about owning a property amidst incredible nature. The seed and inspiration for what would one day become La Esperanza Granada, my own hacienda in the Andalusian hills, was planted here. The way Bushmans Kloof balanced wild nature with cultivated beauty, and how it made guests feel both part of the landscape and gently removed from the world, left an imprint on me that has never faded. And now it has resulted in a hacienda of my own.

“OUT OF AFRICA,” THE SAFARI LODGE

The lodge offers two restaurants, a bar, and endless ways to dine in quiet extravagance. Truly, every moment was curated so well that I felt I was starring in my own movie.

One night, we drove thirty minutes through complete darkness to a 100-year-old shepherd’s cottage, where dinner was cooked and served entirely by candlelight. “Surprise,” Rory, then the general manager, said, about our little excursion into darkness. But, as with the rythmn of the days, after darkness comes light. Or, in this case, candles placed like a mural all over the ancient cottage. The room flickered and glowed, and the chef’s bread pudding cooked completely over open fire tasted of nostalgia and warmth.

If we were seeking an evening worth 100 candles (we counted) and a thousand Instagram photos, well, this was it.

Another evening, we dined in the walled garden, where tables are set among lantern-lit trees. I was told that on New Year’s Eve, the garden transforms into a glowing corridor of long tables and swaying lights — an atmosphere that feels both celebratory and serene. That night, it was just us and lanterns hanging from the trees.

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FINDING THE PERFECT BALANCE

Bushmans Kloof occupies a delicate space between wilderness and wellness. It’s a place where days unfold gently. Guests return not for grand safaris, but to walk, breathe, and rediscover stillness. One of my favorite activities involved lying on a rock in an outdoor terrace while Stephanie, a yoga instructor and wellness healer, used a Tibetan brass bowl to tune my frequencies.

“We have guests who come back every year, and all they love to do is walk and sit in the gardens,” said Rory, whose calm presence seemed part of the landscape itself. One night, he took us stargazing in a 4×4 to find the Southern Cross. Instead we found a scorpion, made visible via special equipment. It was oddly beautiful — the kind of detail that makes a trip unforgettable.

The wildlife here may not include the Big Five, but it offers a subtler and more personal discovery of animals. The delicate Cape fox, with its silvery coat, is rarely spotted elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Cape mountain zebra, smaller and more compact than others, its stripes drawn as sharply as brushstrokes, can only be seen in these parts.

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TRACES OF TIME IN STONE

The soul of Bushmans Kloof lies in its connection to the ancient past. Scattered across the reserve are rock paintings by the San people, some dating back more than 10,000 years.

One morning, our guide Martin led us into a narrow ravine to see one of the most remarkable sites on the property. We climbed over a hedge and there it was: a wall of paintings that stretched across three vast stone panels.

“This one was created over many centuries,” he told us as we stood before the ochre and red figures that seemed to shimmer in the filtered light. “You can tell the difference between generations by the pigments and by the overlapping of drawings. Each style belongs to a different tribe or a different time.”

And as he said this, I began to see it. The evolution of line, colour, and form, each layer whispering across time. Some of the oldest figures were faint, drawn in iron-rich earth. But others more recent, their pigments deeper, more deliberate. It was humbling to think of all the hands that had touched this same rock through the millennia — a silent story told by countless lives long gone.

Time, in that moment, felt almost physical. The wall itself breathed — a living archive of human memory, sunlight, and dust.

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MEMORIES THAT LAST

Just when I thought I’d seen all that Bushmans Kloof had to give, there was one last surprise. Instead of returning to the Makana Restaurant at the lodge for our usual breakfast after an early game drive, Martin led us to a clearing where a champagne breakfast was waiting beside a giant boulder. White linens fluttered in the breeze, and the scent of omelettes cooking over an open flame mingled with wild rosemary, as the head chef stood waiting to welcome us, with a glint in his eye.

“You’re making it very hard for us to leave,” I laughed, though a part of me already knew I didn’t want to.

TEMPORARY TICKET TO BLISS

Even now, whenever life feels too loud, I close my eyes and return to that terrace at Cederberg House. Each night, after dinner, we sat outside with the stars overhead, the silence vast and kind. When I remember my stay here, even for a moment, everything feels perfectly still again.

Bushman’s Kloof is a destination in itself, though this is not always evident at the outset. Some guests check in all set for a typical South Africa luxury safari. But then they realize they’re happy to just do an occasional game drive then laze around and be pampered with unforgettable picnics and candlelight dinners. The Travelife Magazine team stayed here as guests of Bushman’s Kloof prior to the pandemic, and this article has been rewritten as a blog entry. Some of the photos here are credited to the Red Carnation Hotels group.

Read more about articles on luxury safari lodges in Africa in Travelife Magazine

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What makes these gardens worth spotlighting is not simply their foliage. It’s the way space, light, and climate come together to create something emotionally resonant. A ginger forest that hums with tropical life. A courtyard that carries the scent of imperial history. A palm grove that frames the turquoise sea. A vertical green wall that softens a skyline.

In a region where megacities race upward and resorts multiply each year, these hotel gardens offer a rare counterbalance — places where travelers can slow down, walk barefoot on soft earth, and reconnect with a more contemplative rhythm of living. Thus, these make interesting stay options for travelers headed to Asia.

Below are some of Asia’s loveliest hotel gardens, and the hotels that nurture them.

Azerai Ke Ga Bay, Vietnam : A Ginger Forest by the Sea

Set along the unspoiled shores of Vietnam’s south-central coast, about 2.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City, Azerai Ke Ga Bay sits in a peaceful seaside enclave far removed from Vietnam’s busier beach towns. The area is known for its wide, empty beaches, local fishing villages, and the historic Ke Ga Lighthouse — the oldest in the country. This is where travelers come for space, calm, and a gentler rhythm of tropical life.

At the heart of the resort lies the remarkable Ginger Forest, an 1,800-square-meter garden woven with hundreds of ginger species collected from across Asia. The landscape feels almost primeval. Tall, leafy plants rise from deep green undergrowth, releasing a warm, faintly spicy fragrance that drifts through the air. Sunlight filters through the glossy leaves in shifting patterns, creating shadows that dance slowly across the forest floor.

Narrow pathways wind through the foliage, offering guests quiet corners for reflection, photography, or simple wandering. The resort hosts yoga sessions and guided meditation here — moments that blend naturally into the garden’s atmosphere and make the Ginger Forest feel not just ornamental, but spiritual. Positioned between the spa, pool, and the beach, it has become a sanctuary within a sanctuary, grounding guests before they continue their day.

Azerai Ke Ga Bay is an all-villa hideaway designed with luxurious simplicity — clean lines, natural materials, and an aesthetic that lets the landscape speak. The Ginger Forest is its soft, meditative heart.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

Azerai Ke Ga Bay is a serene all-villa resort set along a quiet stretch of coastline — perfect for travelers seeking space, silence, and refined simplicity.

• For beach lovers: The long, soft-sand beach is ideal for sunrise walks.
• Nearby experience: Ke Ga Lighthouse — the oldest in Vietnam — is a short boat ride away.
• For wellness travelers: The spa is one of the best on this coast, offering detox programs, massages, and slow-living rituals.

Discover One of Spain’s Most Beautiful Hacienda Gardens

If hotel gardens inspire you, discover Spain’s most exquisite hacienda garden retreat at La Esperanza Granada.

Set on a private hilltop estate with panoramic views, the hacienda features formal Moorish-inspired courtyards, Mediterranean terraces, vibrant floral gardens, and quiet walking paths framed by olive and citrus trees.

It is one of Spain’s most unique garden hotels, blending Andalusian architecture with serene landscape design.

Click here to explore La Esperanza Granada — your next garden escape in Europe.

TIA Wellness Resort, Vietnam : A Garden Charged With Energy

Located on the serene beachfront of Da Nang, along Vietnam’s central coast, TIA Wellness Resort is known as one of the country’s pioneering wellness retreats. Set between the Marble Mountains and the East Sea, the area blends spiritual landscapes with a long, sweeping beach lined with casuarina trees. Travelers come here for sunrise rituals, spa immersion, and a style of hospitality shaped around mindfulness rather than opulence.

At the heart of the resort lies the Wellness Garden, a space that feels not just planted, but alive. Rosewood trees cast soft, dappled shade over winding stone paths. Mangroves, tall ferns, and dragon trees rise above a lush botanical floor, creating a canopy that rustles gently whenever ocean breezes blow inland.

Parakeet flowers, with their bright tropical flare, cluster near the waterfall pool. The sound of falling water becomes a constant, soothing rhythm — a natural soundtrack to the day’s slow, healing pace. The air is lightly perfumed with jasmine from pinwheel flowers, a scent that drifts through the garden in delicate waves.

Guests settle into shaded cabanas with books and herbal teas, or pause here between the resort’s signature breathwork, meditation, and spa therapies. The garden is not a decorative feature — it is an extension of TIA’s philosophy that transformation begins with nature, silence, and gentle sensory awareness.

TIA Wellness Resort’s aesthetic is modern, serene, and deeply holistic. And the Wellness Garden is its vibrant, breathing core — a place where travelers exhale the moment they arrive.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

TIA Wellness Resort is celebrated for its all-inclusive wellness concept that integrates spa treatments, breathwork, meditation, and nutrition.

• For wellness travelers: Daily massages and mindfulness sessions are included.
• Local exploration: The resort is minutes from the Marble Mountains and My Khe Beach.
• For creatives: TIA is known for hosting retreats on breathwork, artistic expression, and healing.

Palace Hotel Tokyo, Japan : Front Row Seat to the Imperial Palace Gardens

In a city defined by neon, high-speed trains, and endless motion, Palace Hotel Tokyo occupies one of the most astonishingly serene addresses in the Japanese capital. Located in the prestigious Marunouchi district — Tokyo’s business and luxury heart — the hotel sits directly across the moat from the Imperial Palace’s East Gardens, one of the city’s most historic and cherished green spaces.

This rare location gives the hotel a perspective few visitors ever experience: Tokyo not as a futuristic metropolis, but as a place shaped by centuries of royalty, artistry, and quiet seasonal beauty.

Step outside, cross the stone bridge spanning the palace moat, and the shift is immediate. The pace slows. Sound softens. And the dense cityscape dissolves into a vast sweep of green. The East Gardens unfold in layers — ancient stone ramparts, plum orchards, winding gravel paths, tranquil ponds, and the atmospheric remains of Edo Castle, once the largest fortification of its time.

The seasons shape the experience like a living calendar:

• Spring brings clouds of cherry blossoms along the castle walls.
• Summer is lush with iris gardens and shaded walkways.
• Autumn glows with fiery red and amber foliage that seems to ignite the garden.
• Winter reveals its minimal, architectural beauty — stone, water, silence.

For guests of Palace Hotel Tokyo, many rooms and suites offer balconies overlooking the Imperial Gardens — an extraordinary luxury in a city where private outdoor space is rare. Mornings begin with mist rising from the moat; evenings end with lantern-lit reflections on the water. The hotel’s understated elegance, fine dining, and impeccable service blend perfectly with this view, creating a stay that feels refined, contemplative, and unmistakably Japanese.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

Palace Hotel Tokyo is one of Japan’s most elegant urban hotels.

• Room tip: Many suites feature balconies overlooking the Imperial Gardens — a rarity in Tokyo.
• Nearby: Marunouchi’s luxury boutiques, art galleries, and Michelin-starred restaurants are within walking distance.
• For culture travelers: The Imperial Palace cycling route on weekends is unforgettable.

While in Tokyo, Try Japan’s Most Exquisite Dining Experience

If your travels bring you to Tokyo, you may wish to explore one of Japan’s finest gastronomic experiences. Nagatacho Ōhka offers an extraordinary, invitation-only culinary journey crafted by master chefs and rooted in Japanese seasonality and precision.

Read more about Nagatacho Ōhka Private Restaurant

The Anam Cam Ranh, Vietnam : A Kingdom of Palms

The Anam Cam Ranh sits on 12 hectares of tropical waterfront, anchored by almost 3,000 palm trees swaying rhythmically in the coastal wind. These palms, along with frangipani, banyan, hibiscus, and bougainvillea, create a backdrop that feels cinematic — lush, warm, and perpetually sunlit.

Meticulous early planning ensured the gardens grew exactly as envisioned. Today, the property feels like a botanical sanctuary with light filtering through fronds and pathways lined with flowers in full, jubilant bloom.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

A luxurious oceanfront resort with a nostalgic Indochine aesthetic.

• For beach lovers: Long Beach is one of Vietnam’s most pristine stretches.
• Nearby: The fishing villages of Cam Ranh offer local markets and seafood dining.
• For families: The resort offers kids’ clubs, multiple pools, and vast outdoor spaces.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Cambodia : Heritage on the Lawn

The iconic Raffles Lawn is framed by mature tropical trees and old-world architecture — a serene green that mirrors the elegance of nearby Angkor temples. Lanterns glow softly at dusk, the air warms, and the garden becomes one of Siem Reap’s most atmospheric outdoor spaces.

The gardens feel deeply connected to the hotel’s 93-year story, evoking an era when explorers and scholars passed through on their way to the temples.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

A landmark hotel with historic gravitas and classic hospitality.

• Nearby: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm are all within short driving distance.
• For culture lovers: The hotel hosts curated experiences, including temple tours and Khmer cultural evenings.
• For slow travelers: The pool — one of the largest in Cambodia — is a peaceful place to unwind after temple visits.

Alma Cam Ranh, Vietnam : A Riot of Tropical Color

At Alma Cam Ranh, flowers rule. Red Button Ginger blooms across the resort in brilliant scarlet, attracting butterflies and bees. Purple Showers, Yellow Bells, plumeria, and cherry blossoms fill the walkways with color and scent.

Coconut, banana, and mango trees offer shade and visual abundance. The experience is joyful, vibrant, and deeply tied to Vietnam’s tropical botany.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

A lively beachfront resort ideal for families and groups.

• For ocean lovers: Water sports, beach walks, and snorkeling are all available nearby.
• Nearby: The Cam Ranh coastline offers viewpoints, local eateries, and scenic drives.
• For families: Multiple pools, a cinema, and onsite activities keep everyone entertained.

Maia Resort Quy Nhon, Vietnam : Sculpted Calm by the Coast

Maia Resort’s gardens are defined by the Storm Tree, a resilient coastal species that forms a natural green frame around each villa. Pathways lined with tall palms and tropical foliage give the resort a peaceful flow, aided by a 37-person landscaping team that tends every detail daily.

The effect is a garden that feels curated but not forced — natural, soft, and deeply connected to the coastline.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

A stylish beachfront retreat in one of Vietnam’s emerging coastal destinations.

• Nearby: Ky Co Beach and Eo Gio cliffs offer dramatic landscapes.
• For food lovers: The resort is known for its strong culinary program and local seafood.
• For explorers: Quy Nhon has Champa towers, fishing villages, and hiking trails.

The Hari Hong Kong : A Vertical Garden Above the Streets

In a city where green space is rare, The Hari’s three-story vertical garden rises along its façade like a piece of living art. The greenery cools the building, softens the neighborhood’s energy, and creates a calming arrival experience.

At night, the illuminated wall becomes an urban landmark — a gentle reminder that nature can thrive even among skyscrapers.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

A chic boutique hotel perfectly placed in Wan Chai.

• Nearby: Star Street’s cafés, boutiques, and galleries are steps away.
• For design lovers: Interiors by Tara Bernerd & Partners give the hotel a refined, residential feel.
• For explorers: Victoria Harbour and the tram to The Peak are close by.

A Green Reprieve in a Busy City

Zentis Osaka, Japan

Zentis Osaka surprises guests with an arrival through a verdant urban garden of Japanese maple, cherry trees, laurel, and pepper vine. A double-sided fireplace links the indoor lounge with the outdoor terrace — creating a rare, cozy oasis in downtown Osaka.

The plants soften the modern architecture, creating a sense of retreat despite the hotel’s central location.

Why Stay Here & What Else to Explore

A design-forward hotel with a calm, understated luxury.

• Nearby: Kita’s shopping districts, galleries, and restaurants are within walking distance.
• For culture lovers: Osaka Castle is a short ride away.
• For foodies: The city’s famed street food neighborhoods, like Dōtonbori, are easy to reach.

Beautiful Gardens in Every Form

These gardens — whether vertical, coastal, historic, or tropical — remind us that beauty thrives in many forms across Asia. They offer not only tranquility, but also deeper insight into local culture, geography, and design. And for travelers, they become part of the journey itself — the pauses between adventures that linger longest in memory.

READ MORE ABOUT BEAUTIFUL HOTEL GARDENS IN TRAVELIFE MAGAZINE

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Even at midnight, Singapore is beautiful. At least this was my impression as my hotel car sped along the tree-lined highway from Changi Airport into the city, while I admired the Lion City’s skyline all ablaze with lights. It was my first visit after the pandemic and I was eager to see and experience everything new and wonderful.

My journey to find experiences worth remembering began with my choice of hotel. The award-winning Intercontinental Hotel Singapore is a heritage building that has been refurbished completely on the inside, but in such a way that none of its personality is lost.

Everything was quiet when I arrived, as the hotel was obviously winding down another day. In hindsight, it was the perfect time to arrive, actually, as I was able to admire the Peranakan design and details without the crowds. If you do book a stay at this hotel, please take time to see the local details on every wall and in every corner, as you will find an Instagram photo opportunity everywhere amidst its classic white structure.

I loved the choice of Peranakan antiques, including the palanquin and the planter holder in the lobby. The dozens of different kinds of pottery made all the difference to what might have been a standard hotel space as well.

Live the hacienda life at La Esperanza Granada — authenticity meets quiet luxury in Andalusia, Spain

(It’s not a stay. It’s a way of living.)

THE REAL SINGAPORE

The location is another attraction, especially for those seeking a real flavor of Singapore. It is right next to the very busy Bugis Junction with its mishmash of shopping malls — everything from bargain stores to relatively fancy boutiques — and this adds to its charm. You can find branded stores everywhere after all. However the most authentic Singapore, at least for me, is embodied by neighborhoods like Bugis and Bras Basah. Even the other neighborhoods like Little India and Arab Street are short distances away.

And amidst all this, the Intercontinental Hotel Singapore is literally an oasis of luxury and calm. It has many wonderful things to commend it for — a dramatic and elegant lobby lounge that’s extremely popular as a meeting place and a cozy and charming club lounge for long breakfasts and afternoon teas included.

RECENT AWARDS FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL SINGAPORE

2025 AWARDS

• DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards — Top 10 Best Hotel in Singapore  
• Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards — Best Hotel for Business, Best Private Dining (Man Fu Yuan), Best Family Brunch (LUCE)  
• Tatler Dining Awards — Man Fu Yuan, LUCE  

2024 AWARDS

• Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Award — Top Hotels in Singapore  
• DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards — Top 10 Best Hotel in Singapore, 2nd Runner-Up  
• World Luxury Hotel Awards — Luxury Heritage Hotel & Luxury City Hotel  
• World Travel Awards — Singapore Leading City Hotel  
• Travel Daily Media Trade Excellence Awards 2024 — Singapore Luxury Hotel of the Year & Singapore Wedding Hotel of the Year  
• TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice: Best of the Best, Top 25 Luxury Hotels — #2 in Singapore  

THE BEAUTY OF PERANAKAN DESIGN

However, it was really the intricate Peranakan design — so rare to see in Singapore’s other luxury hotels — that captured my heart. The hotel has beautiful artworks as well as pottery and framed pieces of textile that all speak of an elegant heritage. It may seem easy to frame a piece of cloth and hang it on the wall, but here the fabric becomes art.

You see, Singapore is full of modern hotels but these all start to look alike after awhile. In comparison, the intricate and old-fashioned Peranakan designs at the Intercontinental Hotel Singapore captured my eye and my heart immediately. I took out my phone and began snapping photos even before I was midway through check-in procedures. By the time I reached my junior suite, I was completely charmed.

NEXT :

THE JUNIOR SUITE EXPERIENCE OF THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL BUGIS

The post WHERE TO FIND PERANAKAN DESIGN IN SINGAPORE appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Chamonix, France: The Birthplace of Alpine Skiing

Chamonix, nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc, is where European skiing began. The resort rose to fame in 1924 as the site of the very first Winter Olympics, cementing its status as the birthplace of alpine sports. Its dramatic peaks, including the legendary Aiguille du Midi, and its challenging descents—such as the 20-kilometer Vallée Blanche—make it a bucket-list destination for skiers worldwide.

But Chamonix is not only about skiing. The town itself brims with alpine charm: cobbled streets lined with patisseries, lively après-ski bars, and cozy cafés that invite you in from the cold. Visitors also come for the breathtaking views—cable cars and cog railways carry you above glaciers and into landscapes that feel untouched by time.

Where to Stay in Chamonix: Hameau Albert 1er
Address: 38 route du Bouchet, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
Phone: +33 (0)4 50 53 05 09

Experience true Andalusia at La Esperanza Granada in Spain — a restored hacienda in the mountains

(The air smells of rosemary. The silence tastes of sun.)

St. Moritz, Switzerland – The Glamour Capital of Skiing

St. Moritz is synonymous with glamour, style, and the very concept of winter holidays. Set in the Engadin Valley, it has twice hosted the Winter Olympics and remains one of the most prestigious ski resorts in the world. Its wide, sunlit slopes attract royals, celebrities, and serious skiers alike.

Beyond the slopes, St. Moritz is a world of indulgence: luxury shopping, Michelin-starred dining, and the famous frozen lake where polo and horse races are held on ice. The town is not just about skiing—it’s about being part of a glittering alpine tradition.

Where to Stay: Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
Address: Via Serlas 27, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland
Phone: +41 81 837 1000

Val d’Isère, France – Alpine Adventure at Its Finest

Val d’Isère, linked with Tignes to form the Espace Killy ski area, offers some of the best skiing in Europe. With more than 300 kilometers of pistes and endless off-piste terrain, it’s a dream for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The resort also has an electric après-ski scene, with lively bars like La Folie Douce.

The village retains its Savoyard charm with stone chalets and alpine architecture, balancing high-altitude adventure with traditional mountain warmth. Whether you’re carving down Olympic slopes or enjoying fondue by the fire, Val d’Isère is pure alpine magic.

Where to Stay: The Omnia
Address: Auf dem Fels, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland – Skiing in the Shadow of the Matterhorn

Zermatt is one of the world’s most iconic ski resorts, thanks to its unbeatable backdrop: the Matterhorn. Its car-free village adds to its charm, creating a serene atmosphere beneath the dramatic Alpine skyline. With year-round skiing available on the glacier, Zermatt attracts skiers even in summer.

The slopes are varied, with terrain suitable for all levels, and the resort is renowned for its excellent mountain restaurants. Visitors also love exploring the Gornergrat Railway, which offers panoramic views of the Alps.

Where to Stay:

• Airelles Val d’Isère

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – The Queen of the Dolomites

Cortina d’Ampezzo, often called the “Queen of the Dolomites,” combines stunning UNESCO-protected scenery with a touch of Italian elegance. Host of the 1956 Winter Olympics (and future host in 2026), Cortina remains Italy’s most fashionable ski resort.

The town blends high-end boutiques and glamorous cafés with spectacular skiing across the Dolomiti Superski area. Its pink-tinged Dolomite peaks at sunset are reason enough to visit, even for non-skiers.

Where to Stay:

• Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Sierra Nevada, Spain – Sunshine and Snow Above Granada

Sierra Nevada is Europe’s southernmost ski resort and one of its sunniest. Located just 40 minutes from Granada, it combines Mediterranean sunshine with excellent skiing on the highest peaks of mainland Spain. Its elevation and advanced snow-making system ensure reliable snow from late November to early May.

The resort is family-friendly, with modern lifts, ski schools, and a lively village at Pradollano. Best of all, you can ski in the morning and stroll the Alhambra or the streets of Granada in the afternoon—a combination no other European resort offers.

READ MORE ABOUT SKIING IN SPAIN

Where to Stay:

• La Esperanza Granada (Perfect ski & culture base)
  Address: Ctra. Nacional 323, Salida km 153, 18658 Lecrín, Granada, Spain
  Phone: +34 617 776 949

READ MORE ABOUT SKIING IN EUROPE

The post Best Ski Resorts in Europe: Where to Ski, Stay, and Experience Winter Magic appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

There is something timeless about afternoon tea—tiered trays of cakes, delicate sandwiches, warm scones, and steaming cups poured with care. Yet enjoying this ritual on a snowy winter’s day in Prague makes it even more magical. And for me, there is no better place to indulge than the Four Seasons Hotel Prague, a property that offers not just one of the city’s finest afternoon teas, but also a sense of warmth and belonging that lingers long after you leave.

Prague in winter feels like a fairy tale. Cobblestone streets sparkle with snow, lanterns glow at dusk, and spires rise into silver skies. Add to this the comfort of an elegant tea service by the piano, and the experience becomes unforgettable.

Plan your destination wedding at La Esperanza Granada — a secluded hacienda in Andalusia, Spain

My Favourite Hotel in Prague

That afternoon tea reminded me why the Four Seasons Prague is my favourite hotel in the city. It isn’t only about its location, with sweeping views of the Vltava River and Prague Castle. Nor is it just about the beautiful rooms, though I’ve always loved the Renaissance-style suites in calming blue and white.

What sets this hotel apart is its service—seamless, personal, and genuine. Somehow, the staff always seem to know who you are from the moment you arrive. It’s the kind of welcome that makes a grand hotel feel intimate. I’ve stayed in many fine properties, but only a few offer this kind of connection. The Four Seasons Prague is one of them, which is why I return again and again.

Top 5 Things to Do in Prague in the Winter

Visit the Old Town Christmas Market
Prague’s Old Town Square transforms into one of Europe’s most famous Christmas markets. Wooden stalls sell mulled wine, trdelník pastries, and handmade gifts.
Walk Across the Charles Bridge in the Snow
Early mornings or evenings are magical, with statues dusted in white and views of Prague Castle glowing above the river.
Tour Prague Castle at Sunset
Explore the courtyards, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Golden Lane as twilight falls. The winter light makes the Gothic spires unforgettable.
Warm Up in a Historic Café
Try Café Slavia or Café Louvre, both legendary haunts for artists and writers. Order hot chocolate or traditional Czech pastries.
Take a Vltava River Cruise
Even in winter, heated boats glide past Prague’s skyline of domes, bridges, and spires. At night, the city lights make it spectacular.

Four Seasons Prague: Just Like Home

I checked in just after 11 a.m., and from that moment everyone already knew my name. From the bellman to the concierge to the staff in the lounge, each person greeted me as if I were a returning friend.

We dropped our bags, pulled on our coats, and walked toward the Charles Bridge, only minutes away. Snow fell gently on its ancient statues, and across the river, Prague Castle shimmered in white. Walking the bridge in winter felt like stepping into a fairy tale—one of those moments when Prague shows why she has captivated travelers for centuries.

As we left, the doorman smiled and called me by name. Then he said: “You’re just in time for your first afternoon tea in Prague.”

A small gesture, but it captured the essence of the Four Seasons Prague: thoughtful, attentive, and quietly memorable. This hotel doesn’t just welcome you—it makes you feel at home. And what a home it is.

A Proper Czech Afternoon Tea

After our walk, we returned to the lobby for afternoon tea in Prague. The light outside had softened into a golden winter glow, and the piano filled the flower-lined space with warmth.

We began with steaming cups of thick hot chocolate and then let our eyes wander to the dessert trolley. Temptation won quickly. We sampled a little of everything: a deceptively simple chocolate cake laced with liquor, biscuits, pastries, and strudels. I admit—I had two slices of that chocolate cake. But my favourite was a traditional Czech Christmas cake, soaked in syrup and topped with bright icing. Festive, unusual, and unforgettable.

 What is a Czech Christmas Cake?
Known as vánočka, the Czech Christmas cake is a sweet braided bread made with flour, eggs, butter, raisins, almonds, and sometimes rum. It is dusted with powdered sugar or finished with icing at Christmas. Served for centuries, it remains a symbol of Czech holiday tradition.

 What is a Traditional Czech Afternoon Tea?
A Czech afternoon tea differs from the British style. Expect cakes filled with cream or liquor, nut pastries, strudels, and biscuits. Hot chocolate, coffee, or strong black tea are common. In winter, mulled wine or rum-spiked cocoa adds a festive touch.

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As we lingered over sweets and hot drinks, the world outside disappeared. For a while, it was just us, the piano music, and the glow of a perfect winter afternoon in Prague. A #Travelife moment: indulgent, memorable, and never-endingly eventful.

Read more stories about traveling around the Czech Republic in Travelife Magazine

Hotel photos credit: Four Seasons Prague

The post Afternoon Tea in Prague in the Winter appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

We cross a suspension bridge adorned with fluttering prayer flags. The crossing feels like a bridge between worlds, swaying in the wind as I leave behind the bustle of daily life and move toward Pemako, a word synonymous with Beyul (pronounced bay-yul), which refers to a sacred, hidden valley in the Himalayas.

HIDDEN RESORT IN THE HIMALAYAS

Spread across 60 acres in the lush Punakha Valley, Pemako Punakha offers just 21 luxury tented pool villas, each designed for privacy and exclusivity. Recognized as one of the finest luxury resorts in Bhutan, Pemako embodies the Himalayan concept of a Beyul—a hidden sanctuary where nature, spirituality, and wellness converge.

Guests experience a peaceful retreat surrounded by forests and mountains, with space for reflection, healing, and transformation. The very name Pemako, meaning “hidden lotus,” reflects the resort’s promise: an immersive Bhutanese journey where natural beauty, cultural depth, and world-class comfort create a truly transformative stay.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF PEMAKO PUNAKHA

A luxury stay in Bhutan offers more than comfort. In the serene Punakha Valley, guests find peace and spiritual renewal. At Pemako Punakha, time itself becomes the greatest luxury. Each moment moves slowly. The pace allows space for reflection, mindfulness, and connection with nature.

This philosophy — the luxury of time — defines the resort. It invites travelers to slow down, breathe deeply, and regain balance. Rivers, forests, and Himalayan views surround the property. Together they create a sanctuary where the outside world fades. What remains is the calming rhythm of Bhutan and the present moment.

Serenity and happiness for destination weddings in Spain — La Esperanza Granada in Andalusia

From the Himalayas to Andalusia

After immersing in Bhutan’s serene valleys and mindful luxury, continue your journey west to southern Spain, where La Esperanza Granada awaits — a majestic hacienda set high in the mountains of Andalusia. Surrounded by olive groves and Moorish gardens, it offers the same quiet beauty and sense of renewal you’ll find in Bhutan — expressed through Mediterranean warmth, artful design, and timeless hospitality.

LUXURY, THE BHUTANESE WAY

Pemako Punakha embodies a deep sense of place, rooted in Bhutanese culture and designed for modern comfort. Each suite is a sanctuary, blending handcrafted furnishings with panoramic views that soothe the soul.

I rest by my villa’s private outdoor heated pool and look across the valley. Here, the water feels pure and still, reflecting the calm of the serene Punakha Valley. At the same time, its gentle movement recalls the Mo Chhu River nearby. Even so, small details matter. Bottles of herbal water in the villa refresh the body. Together, these moments invite me to breathe, relax, and reconnect with Bhutan’s natural rhythm.

HANDCRAFTED BHUTANESE FURNISHINGS

Inside, the same care continues. First, copper bathroom fixtures glow softly in the light. Then, natural materials blend with modern design. Handcrafted furnishings add warmth and texture. 

Meanwhile, forest air drifts through the villa and reminds guests of their bond with the land. At Pemako Punakha, nothing is left to chance. Instead, every element creates harmony in form and spirit. In the end, these touches offer more than luxury. They give guests peace, presence, and belonging in one of Bhutan’s most sacred valleys.

BHUTANESE THERAPY TREATMENTS

A highlight of any stay at Pemako Punakha is the Lotus Realm Spa. This in-house sanctuary offers wellness rooted in tradition and balance. Guests can select from traditional and modern experiences such as herbal therapies, massage treatments or meditation-inspired rituals to create calmness and to restore vitality.

I chose the signature massage. An experienced therapist used expert techniques to release tension and bring deep relaxation. Each movement felt precise and calming. Additionally, the resort’s Bhutanese hot stone bath is a must-try spa experience.

ABOUT SOWA RIGPA – TRADITIONAL BHUTANESE MEDICINE HEALING

The spa follows the philosophy of Sowa Rigpa — the traditional Bhutanese system of medicine. UNESCO recognizes Sowa Rigpa as part of the Himalayan healing heritage. The practice restores harmony between body, mind, and environment. At Lotus Realm Spa, every treatment draws from this wisdom.

Guests leave with more than physical relief. They discover a holistic path to renewal that nurtures emotional well-being and inner calm.

Read about award-winning La Esperanza Granada in Andalucia, the most beautiful private villa in Spain

THE FOOD OF BHUTAN

The chefs of the Pemako Punakha resort craft each dish to immerse guests in the rich culinary heritage of Bhutan. At Soma, the all-day dining restaurant, guests begin this journey of flavor. The menu blends authentic Bhutanese dishes with international influences, creating meals that feel both rooted and refined.

I started my day with Chump Marp Thup, a traditional Bhutanese red rice porridge. The dish delivered a rich and nourishing breakfast, its earthy flavors balanced by the delicate texture of the rice. Each spoonful introduced me to the depth of Bhutan’s food culture while providing comfort and energy for the day ahead.

For travelers who want to explore the flavors of Bhutan more deeply, Alchemy House is a must-visit. The chefs showcase Bhutan’s native ingredients with skill and care. Each dish feels simple yet exquisite, offering an authentic taste of the land.

At Sura, the private dining space, diners can pair their dinner with a curated selection of fine wines and international whiskies. The Chef’s Table here is a celebration of seasonal ingredients, with each course offering an unexpected and delightful pairing that amplifies the flavors of the region.

The Five Nectars Bar offers inventive cocktails and introduces guests to Ara, Bhutan’s traditional liquor. Each drink features local herbs and botanicals. Every glass tells the story of Bhutan through flavor and craft.

PLANTING PRAYER FLAGS

On the hotel grounds of Pemako Punakha, colorful prayer flags flutter in the wind. Guests can join a cultural activity that involves hoisting prayer flags with guidance from the team. The experience teaches the sacred link between nature, spirituality, and self.

Planting the flags weaves together personal prayers and collective good intentions. The sight adds beauty to Bhutan’s tranquil landscapes. Many believe that hoisting prayer flags brings good luck, prosperity, and long life.

IN BHUTAN, HAPPINESS IS A PLACE

Punakha Valley ranks among Bhutan’s most revered destinations. Travelers celebrate it for its history, culture, and natural beauty. The valley sits between the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers, framed by the Himalayan foothills. Terraced fields, traditional villages, and sacred sites fill this fertile land, reflecting Bhutan’s deep spiritual heritage.

One of its treasures is Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of Fertility. Pilgrims and visitors come here to seek blessings for health, prosperity, and children. The temple’s history and living rituals make it one of Punakha’s most meaningful cultural landmarks.

WHAT TO SEE IN BHUTAN

At the heart of the valley stands the magnificent Punakha Dzong, also called the Palace of Great Happiness. Originally, Zhabdrung Rinpoche built it in 1637. Today, it remains one of Bhutan’s most sacred structures.

Inside, the Dzong holds ancient relics of the Drukpa lineage. In addition, it hosts Bhutan’s most important ceremonies, including royal weddings and coronations. Moreover, its whitewashed walls, carved woodwork, and riverside setting highlight Bhutanese artistry and devotion.

ALL ABOUT ENERGY

Visitors also revere Punakha Dzong as a place where divine energy flows. Thus, it symbolizes the bond between Bhutan’s spirituality, natural environment, and cultural identity. In the end, a journey to Punakha reveals not only Bhutan’s past but also its living traditions, alive in every prayer, ritual, and stone.

PARO TO PUNAKHA:

DRIVE THROUGH THE HIMALAYAS OF BHUTAN

The drive from Paro to Punakha offers one of the most scenic journeys in Bhutan. In total, travelers cover 72 kilometers (45 miles) in about 3 to 4 hours, depending on road conditions.

Along the way, the route winds through the foothills of the Himalayas. It reveals lush valleys, terraced rice fields, and traditional Bhutanese villages. Soon after, drivers cross the Dochula Pass at 3,100 meters. On clear days, this pass rewards them with panoramic views of the eastern Himalayas.

WHAT TO SEE IN DOCHULA PASS

Many visitors also stop at the 108 memorial chortens (stupas) at Dochula Pass. Here, they walk, take photos, and enjoy the mountain air. In addition, travelers often pause at tea houses, viewpoints, and short hiking trails that make the drive more memorable.

Overall, the Paro to Punakha drive connects two important valleys. At the same time, it introduces Bhutan’s landscapes, traditions, and culture in an unforgettable way.

Read more about traveling to Bhutan in Travelife Magazine

Druk Asia offers all-inclusive customized tours of Bhutan. First, guests receive a private guide, dedicated transportation, and luxury accommodations. Next, each journey includes visits to the country’s most sacred and scenic sites.

In addition, the team manages every detail, from logistics to comfort. As a result, guests can relax and focus only on the experience. Then, they immerse themselves in Bhutan’s tranquility and spiritual depth. Finally, the tour delivers a luxurious and stress-free way to explore Bhutan.

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