-
Hi all,
Looking for somewhere to go this bank holiday weekend (we like leaving things late in part to be sure of the weather!)
It looks like the Greek islands are a safe bet, and we’re looking for somewhere similar to the Four Seasons Athens (bit pricey and food was sadly overly salty hospital food) or JW Marriott Crete (not yet open) – a resort with genuinely good food, pools and a large estate to explore. Fly and flop, but not an Iberostar style. We’ve considered Ikos but the 5 night minimum is putting us off – and we don’t have kids!
Any ideas welcome 🙂
My parents are off to the Dreams Resort in Corfu which is part of Hyatt on Saturday
Looks very similar to Ikos in terms of the a la carte options , spirit options etc
Unsure if they have a minimumHyatt’s 7Pines Ibiza and Sardinia resorts keep being mentioned here as great redemptions and may meet your criteria. Not sure what the weather is looking like in those areas of the Med…
Six Senses Douro Valley would be my choice, if and when I win the lottery – and as long as they’ve turned the power back on! I’m sure it was reviewed on here a couple of years ago. I think you can book it through Emyr as well, though you might have to go via the Virtuoso website if he’s off for the weekend.
Weather is gorgeous in Italy at the moment. Kempinski Sam Clemente Palace is on a private island near Venice – with a short flight and direct water taxi from the airport, you’ll be in the hotel by mid morning if you take an early flight. And you have all of Venice available to you if you get bored with the resort.
Oku Kos would fit the bill – Greek Islands and adults only
White Lotus Taormina.
🤣
5 nights at Ikos is also 4 nights and a late check-out.
Weather is gorgeous in Italy at the moment. Kempinski Sam Clemente Palace is on a private island near Venice – with a short flight and direct water taxi from the airport, you’ll be in the hotel by mid morning if you take an early flight. And you have all of Venice available to you if you get bored with the resort.
Alternatively, @Rob likes the JW Marriott Venice resort & spa https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/08/27/review-jw-marriott-resort-spa-venice/
Mandarin Oriental or W Costa Navarino.
Mangia’s Brucoli on Sicily was very nice even though I’m not a resort fan.
Weather is gorgeous in Italy at the moment. Kempinski Sam Clemente Palace is on a private island near Venice – with a short flight and direct water taxi from the airport, you’ll be in the hotel by mid morning if you take an early flight. And you have all of Venice available to you if you get bored with the resort.
Alternatively, @Rob likes the JW Marriott Venice resort & spa https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/08/27/review-jw-marriott-resort-spa-venice/
I’ve stayed in the San Clemente many times over nearly 20 years but never been tempted by the Marriott. Based on Rob’s review, the two hotels have a very different vibe, and it’s very much a matter of each-to-their-own.
The Kempinski is very Venetian. It opened as a hotel in about 2005 under local management and spent a short time as a Regis before becoming a Kempinski. Both Regis and Kempinski kept the original style, and many of the soft furnishings, whilst well maintained, are unchanged since 2005. Although not billed as such, it’s an art hotel, and both the grounds and hotel itself feature regularly changed artworks (sculpture, glasswork, paintings, etc) by local and international artists. The building is a former sanatorium with vast corridors and an enormous sense of space and calm. You couldn’t be anywhere but Venice, although it has a beautiful spartan aesthetic compared with the opulence of some palazzos on the Venice mainland. It’s the most effortlessly stylish hotel I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit, and it has a real sense of place and history.
The Marriott looks like a typical international chain resort; you could be in New York, London or Madrid and you wouldn’t know the difference. Some people love that international feel, and the Marriott would be better for them. You stay there if, emotionally, you are a citizen of anywhere rather than a citizen of somewhere.
The Kempinski shuttle boat is a style icon with sharp lines of polished wood, cream leather and chrome. The Marriott boat is twice the size with better weatherporoofing, but it’s ill-proportioned and unattractively built out of sensible, practical fibreglass. The two boats perfectly illustrate the difference between the two hotels
Weather is gorgeous in Italy at the moment. Kempinski Sam Clemente Palace is on a private island near Venice – with a short flight and direct water taxi from the airport, you’ll be in the hotel by mid morning if you take an early flight. And you have all of Venice available to you if you get bored with the resort.
Alternatively, @Rob likes the JW Marriott Venice resort & spa https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/08/27/review-jw-marriott-resort-spa-venice/
I’ve stayed in the San Clemente many times over nearly 20 years but never been tempted by the Marriott. Based on Rob’s review, the two hotels have a very different vibe, and it’s very much a matter of each-to-their-own.
The Kempinski is very Venetian. It opened as a hotel in about 2005 under local management and spent a short time as a Regis before becoming a Kempinski. Both Regis and Kempinski kept the original style, and many of the soft furnishings, whilst well maintained, are unchanged since 2005. Although not billed as such, it’s an art hotel, and both the grounds and hotel itself feature regularly changed artworks (sculpture, glasswork, paintings, etc) by local and international artists. The building is a former sanatorium with vast corridors and an enormous sense of space and calm. You couldn’t be anywhere but Venice, although it has a beautiful spartan aesthetic compared with the opulence of some palazzos on the Venice mainland. It’s the most effortlessly stylish hotel I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit, and it has a real sense of place and history.
The Marriott looks like a typical international chain resort; you could be in New York, London or Madrid and you wouldn’t know the difference. Some people love that international feel, and the Marriott would be better for them. You stay there if, emotionally, you are a citizen of anywhere rather than a citizen of somewhere.
The Kempinski shuttle boat is a style icon with sharp lines of polished wood, cream leather and chrome. The Marriott boat is twice the size with better weatherporoofing, but it’s ill-proportioned and unattractively built out of sensible, practical fibreglass. The two boats perfectly illustrate the difference between the two hotels
Couldn’t have said it better, fabulous place, just a note – check that the pool is open.
Weather is gorgeous in Italy at the moment. Kempinski Sam Clemente Palace is on a private island near Venice – with a short flight and direct water taxi from the airport, you’ll be in the hotel by mid morning if you take an early flight. And you have all of Venice available to you if you get bored with the resort.
Alternatively, @Rob likes the JW Marriott Venice resort & spa https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/08/27/review-jw-marriott-resort-spa-venice/
I’ve stayed in the San Clemente many times over nearly 20 years but never been tempted by the Marriott. Based on Rob’s review, the two hotels have a very different vibe, and it’s very much a matter of each-to-their-own.
The Kempinski is very Venetian. It opened as a hotel in about 2005 under local management and spent a short time as a Regis before becoming a Kempinski. Both Regis and Kempinski kept the original style, and many of the soft furnishings, whilst well maintained, are unchanged since 2005. Although not billed as such, it’s an art hotel, and both the grounds and hotel itself feature regularly changed artworks (sculpture, glasswork, paintings, etc) by local and international artists. The building is a former sanatorium with vast corridors and an enormous sense of space and calm. You couldn’t be anywhere but Venice, although it has a beautiful spartan aesthetic compared with the opulence of some palazzos on the Venice mainland. It’s the most effortlessly stylish hotel I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit, and it has a real sense of place and history.
The Marriott looks like a typical international chain resort; you could be in New York, London or Madrid and you wouldn’t know the difference. Some people love that international feel, and the Marriott would be better for them. You stay there if, emotionally, you are a citizen of anywhere rather than a citizen of somewhere.
The Kempinski shuttle boat is a style icon with sharp lines of polished wood, cream leather and chrome. The Marriott boat is twice the size with better weatherporoofing, but it’s ill-proportioned and unattractively built out of sensible, practical fibreglass. The two boats perfectly illustrate the difference between the two hotels
I think that’s one of the most poetic hotel summaries I’ve ever read 🙂
Thanks, Savage. I keep going back to the San Clemente because it is so extraordinarily beautiful that it makes my wife very happy. And I am happy when my wife is happy.
We settled on the Sani Resort (owned / run by same company as Ikos) and so far it’s ticked every box for us – good food and drinks, relaxing, and great service. Thanks all for the inspiration – Oku is on my list now, and Venice is definitely one to explore.
Glad you enjoyed. When the weather’s right, long haul is largely unnecessary for a fly and flop in my view; much better to have a shorter flight. We are very fortunate to live in Europe: great climate, great people, great culture.
@jj I totally agree. I love our Asia trips, but there’s always a lot more adventure involved (partner is vegan, we can’t drive, I work for myself remotely). We lived in a granny flat in Aus for a few months but the isolated nature of Aus compared to Europe can’t be understated, and despite pest control, the cockroaches kept coming…
sitting in Greece with a falafel sandwich feeling so grateful to be European!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
