To kick-start our research into romance, we dropped into the Kensington Hotel’s Aubrey Restaurant to test-drive their Valentine’s Day menu. (We don’t like to recommend things blindly, you see, and we were unsure whether candlelight + food + alcohol still = sparks a-sparking). Our conclusion? Let’s just say it’s lucky we weren’t wearing shell suits – by the end of the evening, we were near flammable with desire. Special Valentine’s cocktails in the bar (a passion fruit martini and a champagne blend with gold dust and ginseng) established the appropriate tone; starters of a) hot smoked salmon, salmon tartar, pickled beetroot and horseradish and b) goat’s cheese crostini took us to next base.

Passion burned sweet like the restaurant’s scented candles as we ravished our mains: roast lamb with a mini football of stuffed Savoy cabbage for one; seared monkfish with pancetta and mussel stew for t’other. Dessert was so seductive as to be downright irresponsible: assorted chocolaty delights (right), including mint-chocolate granita and the world’s best brownie. We left clutching pink roses, and trying to remember why we’d ever scorned Cupid. The best bit? The lovers’ menu is a snip at £37.50 a head (this includes your cocktail/champagne), and if you’re too full to move afterwards, you can take advantage of the Kensington Hotel’s Valentine’s Day deal, which includes (more) cocktails, breakfast in bed, and late check-out (call our expert Travel Team on 0845 034 0700 – or +44 20 8987 4312 from outside the UK – to book).

MR & MRS SMITH’S TOP 12 VALENTINE’S HOTEL OFFERS

HÔTEL THOUMIEUX, PARIS
Style Handsome prints
Setting Seventh heaven
At Hôtel Thoumieux in the seventh arrondissement, eating comes first, sleeping second. The hotel’s Valentine’s Day deal includes a one-night stay and a romantic dinner with a champagne-and-wine pairing at its hard-to-book, Michelin-starred restaurant: Le Restaurant de Jean- François Piège. Breakfast will be thrown in, too.
Call our Travel Team to book Hôtel Thoumieux’s Valentine’s Day offer…
Find more romantic hotels in Paris

THE NEW WHITE LION, BRECON BEACONS
Style Impeccable low-key glamour
Setting Little town of Llandovery
At this sweet-natured rural stay, Valentine’s Day bait includes bubbly, a dozen red roses, Cambrian chocolates, a three-course dinner, afternoon tea and a host of other treats, including spa perks and a guided tour into the Black Mountains, to Llyn y Fan Fach (Lady of the Lake) where the mystical lady emerged. Not a bad proposal scene…
See the New White Lion’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in the Brecon Beacons

GRAND HOTEL VILLA CORA, FLORENCE
Style Renaissance of a masterpiece
Setting Bordering on Boboli
Built in the 1870s by Baron Oppenheim for his wife, Grand Hotel Villa Cora is a love letter in art and architecture. The romance lives on, thanks to the hotel’s February special: book the Valentine’s Day offer and you’ll be treated to a free room upgrade, a special gift and a romantic breakfast served in your Florentine boudoir.
See Grand Hotel Villa Cora’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in Florence

LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL & SPA, WILTSHIRE
Style Epicurean country pile
Setting Woodland, hedges and herbs
Lucknam Park is the hotel that has it all: award-winning spa, Michelin-starred restaurant, 500-acre estate and even an equestrian centre, home to 35 glossy-flanked horses. It’s only right then, that its Valentine’s offering is so decadent: a red rose and pink champagne in your room upon arrival, gourmet dinner in the Michelin-starred restaurant, full English breakfast and use of the spa facilities.
See Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in Wiltshire

HOTEL DE RUSSIE, ROME
Style Grandeur with gardens
Setting Between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo
Hotel de Russie has five-star comfort and style, a super-central location and – a well-kept city secret – elegant terraced gardens where guests can escape the fashionable buzz of the Eternal City. There’s a pleasingly comedic aspect to this hotel’s Valentine’s Day deal: a photographer will accompany you and your beloved around Rome, taking pictures of you doing romance. (We’re imaging hapless shots of us falling over/arguing over pasta). Less amusingly, you’ll also get breakfast, a special gift, and the chance to try the restaurant’s Valentine’s-themed menu…
To book Hotel de Russie’s Valentine’s Day offer, call our dedicated Travel Team…
Find more romantic hotels in Rome

LA MAMOUNIA, MARRAKECH
Style Palace of pleasure
Setting Medina-side Mamounia gardens
Even a monk’s drawers would drop at the words ‘helicopter ride’. Book this hotel’s Valentine’s Day deal and a life’s worth of rewards will be yours: a ride in a chopper around the Atlas Mountains, return transfers in a Daimler Jaguar, breakfast and dinner, a massage on arrival and a hammam ritual.
See La Mamounia’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in Marrakech

AQUAPURA, DOURO VALLEY
Style Sprawling spa retreat
Setting Dazzling Douro wine country
Aquapura hotel was once a rural, red-painted family farmhouse. Now, after a dramatic designer reinvention, it’s Portugal’s sexiest spa retreat, offering indulgent wining, dining and poolside reclining. Stay here for Valentine’s, and you’ll be romanced with welcome cocktails, a couple’s massage, a special tasting menu at the restaurant with local wine, and the all-important late checkout.
See Aquapura’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in Douro Valley

DAR DARMA, MARRAKECH
Style World of interiors
Setting Funky old Medina
An Italian Orientalist’s fantasy holiday home, this fully staffed Moroccan boutique stay offers its own homely hammam, mountain-view roof terrace, and a very private, ever so Moorish retreat from the nearby souks. Drop by this Moroccan marvel around the 14th, and choose a special present: a hammam and peeling treatment, free entrance at the Majorelle Gardens, traditional Moroccan babouches or a candlelit dinner for two.
To book Dar Darma’s Valentine’s Day offer, call our expert Travel Team…
Find more romantic hotels in Marrakech

ELLENBOROUGH PARK, COTSWOLDS
Style Fifteenth-century thoroughbred
Setting Racy Prestbury
This sports-loving hotel has good looks of an Appalachian stallion, 90 gorgeous green acres, and a herd of indulgent extras, from fine dining to fine wine-ing. Stay here for Valentine’s, and you will be treated to the classic lover’s lures: champagne, chocolates, a mystery gift and a four-course feast.
See Ellenborough Park’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in the Cotswolds

CANAL HOUSE, AMSTERDAM
Style Reinvented Dutch masterpiece
Setting Cobbled canalside Jordaan
Perfectly located Canal House hotel packs contemporary chiaroscuro decor into a brace of 17th-century merchant’s houses, channeling the dramatic light, natural textures and rich fabrics of the Dutch Old Masters. For Valentine’s, the hotel is giving guests a three-course dinner, breakfast, homemade truffles and a deliciously scented candle.
See Canal House’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in Amsterdam

ST MORITZ HOTEL, CORNWALL
Style Surf-side family HQ
Setting Rugged Camel Estuary
A multitalented modernist resort overlooking the Camel Estuary, the St Moritz Hotel has more can-do attitude than a team of cheerleaders, giving it a fantastic reputation among families of all ages. To woo lovers this Valentine’s, the hotel is treating guests to champagne, dinner, breakfast and a ‘Luxe Love’ box filled with naughty adult treats.
See St Moritz’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in Cornwall

SAN DOMENICO HOUSE, LONDON
Style Restrained Italian extravagance
Setting Steps from Sloane Square
Created from two five-storey, red-brick Chelsea townhouses, complete with original brick balconies and verdant window boxes, this family-owned boutique hotel is a little piece of Italy in West London. For the 14th, the hotel is giving guests free Continental breakfast (served in your room), chocolate, strawberries, a bottle of bubbly and late check-out.
See San Domenico House’s Valentine’s Day offer
Find more romantic hotels in London

Left it too late? Show the love with one of our hotel gift cards. Still in need of inspiration? Have a peek at our honeymoon hotels…

Honeymoon hotspot Namale Resort & Spa (above), in Fiji’s tropical north-east, is home to oceanfront bures, pampering treatments and a raft of activities. Jungle-meets-beach getaway Matangi Private Island Resort makes romance easy, with its dreamy treehouse boudoirs and serene spa. Pristine private-isle escape Vomo Island Resort in the Mamanucas is a rarity: a sophisticated island stay that welcomes children.

In Siem Reap, we fell for a single-suite boutique treat called The One Hotel Angkor. In the same Old Market alleyway, sister property Hotel Be Angkor wooed us with three rooms, each decked out by a different artist.

For an off-the-beaten-track Bali stay, may we introduce Ametis Villa? A 20-minute drive from buzzy Seminyak, this Canggu Beach hideaway has 14 pool-toting villas and around-the-clock butler service.

A stately London stay joins the ranks, too. Art-filled 45 Park Lane (above) bounded onto the scene last year, delivering debonair charm (and Wolfgang Puck’s delicious dining, courtesy of Cut restaurant) to majestic Mayfair.

Be sure to check back next month when we make our first foray into Peru, set course for the Bahamas and Mexico, and discover a luxe island retreat off the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

March 9–18 Austin will be bursting with live music during South by Southwest. Whet your appetites for SXSW by celebrating this Texan city’s other all-sensory delights with a whirlwind tasting tour of its food trailers and star chefs… Tweet us your #EatinginAustin tips @smithhotels

Dieters, look away now. ‘Keep Austin Weird’ was the turn-of-the-millennium bumper-sticker campaign that coined the slogan for a community that prizes all things locally owned and independent. With that in mind, we plotted up at a table in San José Lounge with a couple of Lone Star beers, and a printout of our Smith Austin destination guide, we mapped out some Texas-sized troughing with a trail of courses all over town. It went a little like this…

Our 48-hour foodfest started in SoCo as soon as we parked up behind Jo’s coffee shop at Hotel San José. After a mighty fine café latté we crossed the street to Home Slice where it’s pepperoni and mushroom for him and a slice of white pie with spinach for me. An amble up to the food carts at the 1600 block of South Congress earned me a creamy Red Velvet sugar hit from a glistening shiny Hey! Cupcake airstream trailer (pictured, left).

Despite a tip-off that Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar does a mean margarita, we took the 20-minute walk to Lamberts Downtown Barbecue for a slap of this state’s signature scranstate’s signature scran but in a chichi context. Sticky sriracha-slathered baby back boar ribs with blue cheese dip was washed down with a Shiner Bock (pictured, above left). We wished we were there for the night, but with so many more flavours to guzzle, we bucked up and moseyed across the block to devour upscale street food. Zingy ceviche and calabaza and elderflower martinis awaited at La Condesa (picture above left, bottom) – I defy you to find better Tex-Mex in the world than at this vibrant contemporary Mexican.

With David’s Bull’s Congress fully booked, we walked a few streets over to its neighbouring informal offshoot Second Bar & Kitchen. Here we tucked into a banquet of desserts courtesy of Austin-born-and-bred chef Ethan Holmes. With creations such as cheese-and-bacon ice-cream he is doing a doubly delicious job of keeping Austin weird.

After breakfast bento boxes poolside at Hotel San José, we checked out and head to another food cart enclave, this time eastside at 1001 E 6th Street. A long lazy lunch is whiled away in the searing autumn sun, grazing on Japanese Love Balls, Pig Vicious, Mati Greek Food, and Bits & Druthers. It is a miracle we managed to stay afloat that afternoon at our next boutique bolthole: Hotel Saint Cecilia, the glamorous SoCo sister to Hotel San José. (Now, if you’re not greedy guts like us, but you’re a sucker for snacks, the amenities in this place are award-deserving. Our ‘minibar’ – full-size fridge more like – even included gourmet French cheeses and salamis.)

Appetites worked up (thanks only to serious will-power not to plunder our in-bungalow deli) and stimulated by refreshing and spicy health drinks (pomegranate and black pepper Prometheus Springs, anyone?), we headed towards the University of Texas Campus for our last multi-course meal of this gorge-some getaway. Feasting doesn’t get fancier – but without too much fuss – thanks to another savvy local chef, Josh Watkins and his simple-but-sophisticated modern American menu at Carillon Austin. Highest-quality ingredients and exciting flavours had us light-headed and full-bellied: tender cuts-like-butter steak and miso-marinated mero paired with first-class selections from an excellent international selection… mmm.

Our only regret after our action- and calorie-packed two days? We didn’t get to world-class Japanese restaurants Uchi or Uchiko in Austin. But that’s what next times are for…

Read my full Hotel San José review online. Rooms from $175. At sister hotel, Hotel Saint Cecilia, rooms from $295.

Style Skyscraping scenester
Setting Southwest SoHo

Why this week? Why not sneak away for a seductive stay on the 14th, or bank some brownie points by booking a mid-March break? To lend a hand, the helpful hoteliers at the James New York are offering Smith members an exclusive Smith offer, including breakfast and two tipples in the Treehouse Bar, for stays before 31 March 2012. And, to ensure your Manhattan trip is a true work of art, pop into the nearby MoMA and satisfy any creative cravings.

Our favourite bits Cool-hunters lured by the James’ art-covered walls won’t be disappointed; curator Matthew Jensen has saturated the space with pieces by local and international artists. Sarah Frost’s keyboard-clad Qwerty 5 crowns the lobby, the glass elevator doubles as an exciting exhibition space, and each corridor has devoted itself to a different artist. For those accomplished in the art of love, head to the huge penthouse where decor by Dutch designer Piet Boon vies for attention with three-walls-worth of stunning Manhattan skyline – the only camera worthy competitor is the striking rooftop bar, Jimmy, a mixologist’s mecca with 360-degree vistas.

Mr & Mrs Smith say…‘The space is contemporary, but not clinical: the James strikes a chic balance between being arty, and edgy, but elegant and warm. Dark wood floors, a lacquered table and chairs, floor-to-ceiling windows and a bathroom with a moveable Oriental panel to separate it from the rest of the room; yup, this is a well thought-out space.

Nestled into my favourite New York neighbourhood, right in Downtown’s beating heart, we’re a short walk or a five-minute cab ride from the most interesting and intriguing boutiques and bars… Although in the end we discover the most eye-popping views and zingy cocktails are just upstairs: at rooftop bar, Jimmy. An outside deck, a swimming pool, 360º skyline vistas and super-accomplished mixologist, Johnny Swet, all await on the top floor of the James. I’ve been coming to New York for years, and this wins a prize as one of the most awesome watering holes.’

Packing tip Bring your journal to jot down the names of the up-and-coming artists whose work is on show in the hotel’s public spaces.

Read the full review of The James New York. Find more New York hotels, or search all our hotel offers.

Copy compiled by Olivia Rawes.

ALBUM OF THE MONTH

Black Light by Diagrams

When? You’re tempted into synth
Why? This is machine-made pop of the human kind

If you’ve ever caught yourself smiling along to the pared-down folk of Kings Of Convenience, the quirky pop of Gruff Rhys, the jerky rhythms of Metronomy or the warming songs of Elbow, you should schedule a slot in your ears for Diagrams. Having founded experimental folk band Tuung, Sam Genders has taken time out to record a low-key but rather wonderful new album. Diagrams is an altogether more electronic pop affair than Genders’ other work. His new sound is packed with gently looping basslines, machine-driven hand-claps, and shuffling but syncopated beats, all wrapped up with his convivial, open-hearted voice. It’s not hard to hear echoes of the two producers who worked with Genders: Fever Ray’s Subliminal Kid and Moloko’s Mark Brydon. Nor is this far removed from the wonky pop of Hot Chip, as songs such as ‘Black Light’ attest. But, bizarrely enough, it is perhaps the 1980s pop of Peter Gabriel that gets nearest to Diagrams’ catchy and loveable eccentricity, and there’s nowt wrong with that.

Download Black Light now

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THE SMITH CLASSIC

Jukebox Jam by Various Artists

When? It’s time to rock the dust off your fridge top
Why? Not dancing isn’t an option

If you buy only one compilation album this year – well, you can guess the rest. This is an expertly curated, truly deadly collection of obscure 1950s R&B and jump blues. It’s fascinating as a record of the blurred lines between jazz, blues and early rock ’n’ roll that was the foundation of R&B – you can almost hear these American music forms morphing into each other. But, far more importantly, this is an undeniably swinging set of some of the-best-music-you-never-heard from that era. Irresistibly groovy, powerfully raw, and by golly, fierce – there’s completely rockin’ blues from the likes of the late Etta James, Rose Mitchell, Big Maybelle and a host of others. Throw out your Technics 1210s, and eat your hot pants. This is all you need for any house party. Period.

Download Jukebox Jam now

TuneSmith Rob Wood is the creative director and founder of Music Concierge, an award-winning music consultancy service for boutique and luxury hotels.

LA, the home of Hollywood, of movie stars and year-round sunshine. A recent jaunt there gave me the chance to spend a January morning lying by a pool, an afternoon seeing Beverly Hills stars head towards the Golden Globes, and an evening eating like an A-lister. I was there to film a pilot for a new TV show, and used that as an excuse to give you beautiful people the scoop on how to feel like a megastar when you visit that starriest of States, California.

1 TRAVEL LIKE A STAR

The first thing you need to do is to arrive like a star. It’s a 10-hour flight from the UK, so choose the most comfortable/sexiest airline you can. From London Heathrow, I reckon that’s Air New Zealand. They fly direct every day; you can order food and drink whenever you want from your seat via your TV screen (which also gives you power and an iPod connection so you can watch your own stuff); their in-flight concierge will give you tips on what to do when you land; and there are even windows in the bathrooms. Surely only superstars have a pee looking down over the Grand Canyon?

Top tip If your lack of movie-star budget nixes Business Premier and its mega-comfy lie-flat beds, book you and your Mrs Smith into Premium Economy’s award-winning Spaceseats. Opt for the central aisle if you want to snuggle up together watching films or dine across a shared table as you cross the Atlantic.

I know I arrived like a star because I spotted two of them on the plane with me; like them, once you arrive, you’ll want to check into a showbiz Hollywood hotel and go for the first of many amazing meals. Wherever you eat in LA, you’ll be surrounded by actors; they’ll be the ones serving you.

2 EAT LIKE A STAR

Chateau Marmont has a restaurant that’s every bit as glamorous as its starry hotel clientele; Spotted Pig star chef Carolynn Spence turns out imaginative Med-infused Californian haute cuisine. You can also people-watch while you eat at the buzzy poolside restaurant during the day.

Jack n’ Jills on North Beverly Drive (+1 310 247 4500) is a cute little lunch spot that does huge sandwiches, salads and moreish sweet potato fries; get some of their great cookies to go, too. As I left, the paps were lined up outside; much to my disappointment they were waiting for someone showbiz to arrive.

Urth Caffé (+1 310 659 0628). You’ll find a few of these across town but the West Hollywood one on 8,565 Melrose Ave is another hip lunch-and-coffee spot. The guys in Entourage were always going to this small Design District café, and there’s a good reason why. Tasty organic coffee, awesome breakfasts, healthy lunches and the chance to sit in the sun whilst snacking and star-spotting.

Katsuya (+1 323 871 8777). They started with one, all the stars visited, and now they’ve ended up with four in LA alone. The one on 6,300 Hollywood Boulevard is where it’s at though (right). The Philippe Starck interior design makes you swoon while the dynamic Japanese menu is like foreplay for your tastebuds. Try the cocktails and the signature crispy rice with spicy tuna: you’ll never forget it.

The Ivy at 113 North Robertson (+1 310 274 8303) – it’s an institution. All the agents in town take their clients here for dinner and lunch, so it’s the place to network. Sure, you’ll find more exciting food elsewhere, but there is nowhere better to see and be seen. Try to get a seat on the terrace.

Gordon Ramsey at The London, West Hollywood (+1 310 358 7788). Us Brits love invading LA, and Mr Ramsey is no exception. He stays true to his fresh, seasonal, local and simple rules, offering classic dining with an LA twist. If you don’t want to splash the cash, try his Boxwood Café instead: breakfast, brunch or lunch, done.

3 PARTY LIKE A STAR

Be sure to get yourself involved in the pool scene during the day and at night jump into the LA bar scene. The sunset strip is worth hitting: start off at Bar Marmont, next to the Chateau Marmont hotel, for cocktails and a bit to eat, then cross the road and head to the rooftop bar at The Standard Hollywood, where models are in Perspex boxes and you can sit on a vibrating waterbed. Then finish your night at Skybar at the Mondrian, where you can check out the Hollywood hotties and admire the amazing views of the LA skyline. Probably best to take a photo: you’ll forget it all by the time you’ve shifted the hangover the next morning.

4 STAY LIKE A STAR

Cross James Bond bachelor chic, mid-century modern architecture and acid-bright pop-culture wit, and you get The Standard Downtown LA. With one of the coolest bars in LA, baths big enough for basketball players, and on-the-money decor that cries out to be a Sixties-era film set, this boutique hotel is a big hit in the city’s night scene.

For a taste of classic Hollywood  high life, you can’t go wrong with Chateau Marmont. The arts and crafts ‘castle on the hill’ is the epitome of all that’s great and good about tinseltown: glamorous, cool and utterly captivating.

The Thompson Beverly Hills brings a dash of East Coast sophistication to the heart of LA. It’s like the backdrop to a Helmut Newton photograph – all dark-toned 1970s-style and black-leather accessories.

Browse our Los Angeles city guide; read an art-lover’s guide to LA; check out Chris Cox’s Fontelunga Hotel review or his guide to the Edinburgh Fringe.

London Southbank’s artistic director, Jude Kelly, put it well in the programme for the inaugural Death Festival: ‘It is not about morbidity, sentimentality or sensationalism. It is full of delight and humour. It’s about hearing powerful stories and interesting facts from people who have had to sort out practically and emotionally how to face up to the greatest and most challenging of all certainties. Come and be part of it – we’re all in this together.’

She was dead right. The mood was almost euphoric; there was a buzz. Was this the dawn of a new era of openness? We felt like pioneers. Indeed, this was probably the first event like this in Western history, according to Rosie Inman-Cook at the Natural Death Centre stand, who’d been on BBC breakfast telly saying how funerals can and should be so much better (and cheaper) than what we put up with. Their website immediately got 10,000 hits.

Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations inspired the great logo for the Death Festival, and it was subtitled the Festival for the Living. It seems there’s a groundswell to break free from the sombre Victorian attitudes that we’re still lumbered with. The festival sold out quickly. Another sign of the times is British company Crazy Coffins, who make caskets as uplifting, personalised and elaborate as the famous Ghanaian coffins. Exhibitions of both were delighting the crowds at the weekend.

There was standing room only for musician and writer Paul Morley when he read from his essay on the phenomenon of rock stars dying young, particularly at 27, how this immortalises them, and how it’s part of the fabric of rock n roll. Smiley and engaging, Sam Turner from the charity Dying Matters presented a moving film of people who have lost loved ones or who are themselves facing death, explaining why talking about it is so important. Documentary photographer Murray Ballard showed his shots of the people, places and equipment used in cryonics – the practice of preserving a dead human or animal through freezing in the hope of healing and revival in the future. There was a fair amount of giggling, and yet, well, you never know…

The image from the festival that will always stick in my mind was back at the Natural Death Centre stand:  there on the floor were half a dozen completely absorbed children huddled around a coffin, happily drawing all over it – their serene and contemplative parents looking on. There was a lovely caring atmosphere there. And it stopped that coffin being scary – perfectly symbolic for the whole weekend.

London 2012 is in full throttle as we lead up to the Olympics in August. Involved in planning any exciting London events? Tweet us colourful dates for our calendar @Smithhotels.

Words: Bruce Traynor. For advice or guidance on family-led funerals and natural burial grounds, contact the very friendly team at the Natural Death Centre.

01 KARMA KANDARA
The beach belle On the southern Bukit Peninsula, this family-friendly Bali hotel is a study in tropical style. Its beach club is perfect for chilling out with a cocktail and mellow tunes; massages in the clifftop-hugging spa are accompanied by soft sea breezes and the sound of lapping waves; and dinner comes sunset-gilded ocean views.

02 UBUD HANGING GARDENS
The pool paradise We were wowed by the vertiginous two-tiered infinity pool at Ubud Hanging Gardens hotel in central Bali: its jaw-dropping backdrop of jungle greenery and ancient temple is a rare treat. Remember you’re a sybarite, and order a ‘floating dinner’ in the Pool Villas – staff set up a raft of delicious treats for you to nibble in the pool. And how many other hotels are there with their own funicular? (Not including The Pavilions, Phuket, of course…).

03 ALILA UBUD
The jungle eyrie Book an airy Valley Villa at hilltop boutique resort Alila Ubud for the best panoramas of the lush forest canopy. Borrow the resort’s bikes and pedal across rice paddies, or dip into local life in Ubud itself. Smith members also get an indulgent Balinese spa massage for two…

04 THE SHABA
The romantic hideaway With three rooms, this bijou bolthole in south-west Bali is nothing if not intimate. Bag the master suite, or take over this dreamy mansion exclusively. Elegant furniture, hanging lanterns and a bubbling fountain create a seductive feel; for sunset wining and dining, Jimbaran Bay’s beach and restaurants are just a stroll away.

05 HOTEL TUGU BALI
The surfer sanctuary Fancy catching some waves but want to avoid the Kuta crowds? Head to Hotel Tugu Bali in sleepy, seaside Canggu, a 20-minute drive north of Seminyak. It’s a looker, with museum-quality antiques and a reconstructed 300-year-old temple providing one of its dining rooms; plus it’s just a board’s throw from a laid-back beach with great surfing.

Find more boutique hotels in Bali; or check out Mr & Mrs Smith’s Indonesia hotel collection.

Style Back to nature
Setting Mountain high

Why this week? Ooh, you lucky people – Smith members booking the hotel’s special eco and spa package will save 25% at Spicers Canopy. The package includes all meals, a full-day privately guided eco walk, and a one-hour spa treatment for two at the hilltop Spa Anise. They’re even throwing in a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne for good measure!

Our favourite bits The 10 breezy luxury canvas cabins are grouped together, overlooking sprawling green lawns and bushland, but with its fantastic views of Cunningham Gap and the mountains, Tent 6 is the standout. Three-course dinners, gourmet barbecues, and pizzas and roast meats from an alfresco wood-fired oven are all on offer; watch acclaimed chef Daniel Mosedale whip up dishes with an authentic Australian flavour in the open kitchen, where bush spices and locally grown produce are the stars.

Mr & Mrs Smith say… ‘If you ever get nostalgic for the camping trips of your childhood, then a stint at Spicers Canopy in Queensland’s serene Scenic Rim could be just the ticket. Set in a private nature reserve, this eco-aware retreat is all about achieving a natural high. Enjoy guided walks through the 8,000-acre grounds, take a cooling dip in the swimming hole, dine on gourmet fare with an Australian flavour, and star-gaze with a glass of red in hand…’

Smith members can book now at 25% off; read more about Spicers Canopy; find more Scenic Rim hotels.

One of the top names in Copenhagen’s design directory is Georg Jensen, the high-impact silversmith that lends sleek Danish style to everything from elegant candlesticks to show-stopping jewellery; Smith reviewer Heather Cowper picks the brains of Georg Jensen’s Anne Mette Müller-Krogstrup for her guide to the best design shops and snack stops.

When your girlfriends come to visit, where do you like to take them shopping in Copenhagen?

I’d meet them at at Amagertorv (above), Copenhagen’s central square, and we would drop in at Illums Bolighus, which sells a variety of accessories, furniture and lamps. Then we’d go next door to the Georg Jensen flagship store to see the beautiful selection of art nouveau silver (left).

Further down the street is Hay House (right), an innovative store with Danish design at its best – original, humorous and colourful. They also have one of the best views in town, so we’d take a five-minute break by the window. For lunch, we’d go to The Royal Café: the decor’s both funny and stylish, the food’s inspired by the traditional ’smørrebrød’ (open-faced sandwich) and the service is charming! From here, we’d head to Lot #29, where the designer brands are cooler than a Danish winter day. Finally, we get an indulgent treat from Agnes Cupcakes — my favourites are the red velvet and liquorice flavours.

And how would you spend a relaxing day out around town with friends?

Let’s start with a visit to the newly renovated Rosenborg Castle to admire the original Flora Danica dinnerware collection (left), created in 1790 as a gift to Catherine the Great. In the Kings Garden, we’ll walk among the roses, sculptures and handsome royal guards (they’re not supposed to smile, but sometimes they do.)

After, we’d check out the work by emerging and established artists at Galleri Christina Wilson on Esplanaden. For lunch, we’d go to Gitte Kik, founded in 1797; the mix of good food and good people makes for a great buzz. Next door is Amazing Space spa, where we’d get the ‘Day in Heaven’ treatment. Newly detoxed, we’d to Ruby’s, one of the hippest bars in town, to start our evening…

ANNE METTE’S COPENHAGEN ADDRESS BOOK

SHOP:
Illums Bolighus 1 Amagertorv, (+45 3314 1941)
Georg Jensen 4 Amagertorv (+45 3311 4080)
Hay House 61 Østergade (+45 9942 4440)
Lot #29 29 Gothersgade (+45 3314 1429)

EAT & DRINK:
Royal Cafe 6 Amagertorv (+45 3312 1122)
Agnes Cupcakes 2 Sværtegade (+45 3120 6000)
Gitte Kik 4 Fortunstræde (+45 3311 1537)
Ruby’s 10 Nybrogade (+45 3393 1203)

VISIT:
Rosenborg Castle 4a Øster Voldgade (+45 3315 3286)
Galleri Christina Wilson 8 Esplanaden (+45 3254 5206)
Amazing Space 1 Fortunstræde (+45 3333 8233)

Check out Heather’s interview with Mai Kappenberger, manager of stylish Copenhagen bolthole Avenue Hotel; or read her anonymous review of Heritage Av Liberdade hotel in Lisbon.