A leisurely break on the sun-caressed shores of Greece provides a natural antidote to the daily grind. Why not indulge in some serious relaxation at the boutique spa hotel Grace Mykonos, on an island renowned for its stylish visitors? Style Contemporary coastal cool Setting Aegean beach-side seclusion Tweet
It’s all downhill from here. Or at least that’s the case at Amangani, a three-storey sweep of sandstone and redwood in the Rocky Mountains, with postcard-perfect views of snowy peaks, and easy access to some of the best skiing in the US. The hotel itself is a winter wonderland, with a cosy library, a steaming [...]
Swaying palms, soft white sand, sparkling waters (and champagne): if you’re a bride to be, chances are you’ve fantasised about a beach wedding in Thailand. Smith reviewer and roving travel reporter Carmen Roberts spills the beans on her dream destination wedding at Trisara, a romantic resort in Phuket… What wowed you most about Trisara as a wedding hotel? Privacy [...]
Totting up your 2012 travel wishlist? Jade Mountain in St Lucia is worthy of going straight to the top… Abundant in all the Caribbean vacation clichés (sun, sea, snorkelling, secluded sands), Jade Mountain has everyone feeling like a honeymooner. It’s an architectural triumph that insists visitors to this friendly island enjoy all the tropical paradise [...]
Great news! We’ve unearthed our first boutique hotels in Sri Lanka, the tea-rich teardrop-shaped island nation languishing off the south-east coast of India. Here’s a little preview of our latest launches… Rustic manor house The Wallawwa in Negombo makes a seductive first-night sojourn, with a soothing spa to ease any post-flight stress (plus it’s pretty handy for [...]
Ok, so there isn’t Union Jack bunting draped around Smith HQ and we don’t have matching ‘Wills 4 Kate’ mugs, but with the country’s most anticipated nuptials nearly upon us, we thought it churlish not to get into the spirit of things. In true royal wedding style, we are indeed wondering about Kate’s dress. And [...]
With a look book that’s generally considered to be the last word in British bridal elegance, Amanda Wakeley (OBE, if you don’t mind) is renowned for her fashion finesse (not to mention after-dark attire, if Beyoncé’s recent Vegas clubwear and Florence & the Machine‘s choice of performance get-up, below right, are anything to go by). [...]
There are times when less just simply isn’t more. Bored by minimalism and modernity, we’re hankering after the kind of extravagance that would make a maharajah blush. We’re talking grand beds with marshmallow-plump bedspreads and squashy silk cushions, lofty ceilings with ornate frescoes, walls bedecked with paintings of stirring scenes and haughty miens and bathrooms [...]
Francis Ford Coppola – what a legend, eh? Not only because he’s responsible for some of the greatest gangster movies ever to grace our screens, but also because he’s a pretty hip hotelier, too. Top of our list of Coppola-backed boutique boltholes to visit (and possibly never leave) is Turtle Inn in Belize… Why this [...]
With Cupid on the cards mid-month, there’s more reason than ever to splash out on (boutique) bedded bliss. Luckily, our ceaseless search for seductive stays has resulted in eight new additions, spread across cool coasts, colour-rich countryside and snow-kissed slopes. First up are two Greek treats on the idyllic islands of Kefalonia and Ithaca – [...]
