Travel
Originally published on Tuesday, 15th October 2013
TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT AUTUMN
It's that time of year again: summer is well and truly over, and it's time to dust off the passport and start thinking about autumn and winter getaways. For those looking to travel to far flung locales, we've got you covered with everything from eating the cuisine du jour in Cuzco, exploring Shenzhen, or ringing in the New Year in Tulum or Cartagena. Work on your winter tan in Jamaica or St Lucia, or stay close to home and throw a last-minute manor house party in Northumberland. For short hauls, a trip to the Swiss Alps for skiing action is only a few hours away aboard Eurostar's ski train, hooray!
EAT: CUZCO
You’ve eaten at Michelin-starred Lima, Chotto Matte and Martin Morales’ Ceviche in Soho, the Ceviche Virgin Atlantic lounge pop up, and marked the opening of Andina in your diary. We say it’s time to go straight to the source and head to Peru. Seafood lovers should try La Mar’s 5-ceviche degustation, where chef Diego Oka has built a cult following, while fans of Nikkei flavours will enjoy Maido’s nigiri sushi with cecina (thinly sliced salt- cured beef). Go for colonial grandeur at the oxygen-enriched suites at Palacio Nazarenas. This restored convent features six interlocking courtyards, original inca stonework, and an infinity pool, overlooking Virgilio Martínez’s Senzo.
Website: Palacio Nazarenas Address: Plaza Nazarenas 144, Cuzco, Peru Cost: Rooms from £320
PARTY: TULUM
Now for a change of pace. Tulum is usually a quiet place to ring in the new year, but this time around The Young Turks are throwing an epic party, with a line up featuring Grimes, the xx, Chairlift and more. If you can’t tear yourself away from Mexico’s Mayan Rivera, go for a party double header and stay on for the BPM Festival, hitting Tulum in early January (ravers and corporate promoting expected, of course). As for accommodation, it’s a fierce battle: UJ recommends going old school and phoning around to scout out the best rooms, as many places don't have updated information online. After January 2nd, expect better rates and availability.
The Young Turks New Year’s Eve Party,Tickets from £95
PARTY: CARTAGENA
Speaking of NYE, Cartagena is a classic option (think outdoor dining en masse as the restaurants move their tables onto the sidewalks and the streets are taken over with parties) and hotel availability seems good, too. Stay at the six-room Hotel Agua, a restored colonial mansion - expect antique furnishings, frescoed ceilings and Botero artwork. Hop a boat to the coral archipelago of Rosario for pristine water and white sands or try Juan Felipe Camacho’s signature Basque pinxto at the recently opened Maria. Keen to explore more of Colombia? The up and coming city of Medellín is only an hour away and flights are easy on the bank balance.
Hotel Agua, Calle de Ayos 4-29, Cartagena, Colombia Cost: Rooms from £250
WEEKENDER: NORTHUMBERLAND
Gather up the troops and pack your weekend bags: villa virtuosos Scott Williams has turned its refined eye to the UK, and is set to launch 10 travel rental properties around the country (with its signature luxe touch, of course). It’s kicking off with a heritage house in Alnwick, Northumberland. Set on a stunning 2,500 hectare estate, with a chef on site, room to sleep sixteen, and old-school OTT interiors (think claw foot baths, giant super king beds and an open fire) it’s got all the trappings for throwing a manor house party before Christmas hits. Book now!
Scott Williams Villas, Northumberland villa from £2,500 for 1 week. Available from November 2013.
JAMAICA TAKE 2: TREASURE BEACH
It may be a case of been there, done that at GoldenEye and The Caves but Jamaica’s siren call is hard to resist, especially with the launch of the idyllically secluded Seaweed Luxury Villa at Jake’s. With 270 degree ocean views, a two-level infinity pool and an outdoor bar complete with rattan roof for al fresco entertaining (yes, there’s an outdoor grill and a fire pit, too), this is exclusivity at it’s finest. You may never want to leave.
Jakes, 2 Bedroom Seaweed Luxury Villa from £370
Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, W.I.
THE NEW JEWEL OF THE ORIENT: SHENZHEN
Shenzhen’s suddenly on our radar. We’ve been hearing whispers about the city’s rising travel cred, and now the big guns have moved into town. Four Seasons Shenzhen has opened, with the luxuries one expects from the hotel behemoth: panoramic views, an immense rooftop deck, vast pools and an indulgent spa. Check out OCT Loft for the UNESCO city of design’s art scene- think factory area turned culture hotspot, or embrace kitsch at the city’s theme parks, from a converted Soviet aircraft carrier to OCT East’s upmarket version of Disneyland. Plus, as it is located just 10 minutes away from the Huanggang and Futiann borders to Hong Kong, it’s easy to fit in a daytrip as well.
Four Seasons Shenzhen, Rooms from £175
Address: 138 Fuhua Third Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518048 China
R&R: SUGAR BEACH, ST LUCIA
If you’re looking for an R&R fix, head straight to Sugar Beach, St Lucia. Luxury dominates at the former sugar plantation (it’s just had a $100 million makeover, and it shows). Nestled in the Val des Pitons, the resort boasts pure white guest rooms (all with private plunge pools and butler service), a tree house spa built by Rastafarian craftsmen using 900-year-old Caribbean techniques, and an in-house rummelier at its Cane Bar. Feeling adventurous? If you get peckish, just plant a red flag in the sand for cocktail and food service. Easy!
Sugar Beach, Villas from £935 Address: Val des Pitons, Soufriere, St Lucia West Indies
SHORT HAUL: SWISS ALPS
Hop a train and hit the slopes at the Swiss Alps. The Eurostar makes several stops in the Alps, so you’re spolit for choice, with resorts such as Zermatt, Saas-Fee and more within a stone’s throw. Try the secluded winter wonderland of Montagne Alternative, where newly converted barns-turned-chalets - all original wood with log fires and cosy furnishings - are set in a tiny hamlet in Commeire (former population: 11). Solitude seekers will enjoy La Fouly’s vast, empty pistes, while Verbier regulars should mark December 1st on their calendar, as that’s when W Verbier throws open its doors.
Montagne Alternative, 1937 Orsières, Commeire, Switzerland
Rooms from £190
Eurostar ski train service begins December 21.
