Esperanza, An Auberge Resort, Photo Credit: Auberge Resorts
We don’t need some groundhog to tell us that we still have a long way to go until the warm, sunny days of summer are here. That fact could leave you sullen or you could see right now as the perfect time to make an escape to some luxurious spot that considers it chilly whenever temperatures drop below 75 degrees.
Here are seven gorgeous places around the globe with plenty of sun, seclusion and spectacular packages.
St. James, Barbados
The 75-room Fairmont Royal Pavilion is one of the most luxurious properties in Barbados. The resort boasts a pristine beach, extensive gardens, a freshwater pool and two beachfront restaurants. Extras like non-motorized watersports, daily afternoon tea, swimming with turtles, tennis and a weekly cocktail reception are all included with your stay.
The hotel’s Luxury Getaway package builds upon that hospitality: It includes airport arrival and departure service, complete with a personal concierge, access to the airport lounge and transportation in a luxury car; lodging in a Beachfront Junior Suite; a $250 resort credit per room, per night to spend as you wish on things like in-room massages, tours, or dining; daily breakfast; a private swim with the turtles; personalized butler service; and a welcome amenity from Mount Gay Rum.
InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, Photo Credit: InterContinental Hotel Goup
Sydney, Australia
InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, popular with visitors and locals alike, is tucked away in the Eastern Suburbs village of Double Bay and overlooks its namesake waterfront.
The hotel’s Bayside Bliss package consists of Bayside Room or Executive Bayside Suite accommodations, in-room balcony breakfast for two, valet parking, champagne with petit fours on arrival and late check-out.
Make sure to leave time for drinks at the Rooftop, a poolside bar with panoramic views for sunset watching. The hotel also puts on an impressive afternoon high tea. Suite guests and those staying in a Club InterContinental room get access to the hotel’s club lounge, where perks include the aforementioned tea, breakfast, evening drinks in the private lounge and café seating in the internal courtyard, so it’s worth the upgrade.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort, where celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio have been spotted, is an exclusive 57-room gem set on the hillside of Punta Ballena overlooking the beach. All the rooms have private balconies with plunge pools or hammocks, but the Beachfront Junior Suites boast the best vantage points of the Sea of Cortez, especially from the perfectly placed infinity-edge hot tubs.
Other amenities at the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort include a multi-tiered pool with in-water loungers and hammocks; a world-class spa where treatments are performed in individual casitas; and free exercise classes such as yoga or TRX.
Located in a stunning setting on the ocean’s edge, Cocina del Mar is the resort’s signature seafood restaurant. Your personal concierge can set up anything from dinner reservations to golfing or scuba diving in Cabo San Lucas.
Monarch Beach Resort, Photo Credit: KSL Resorts
Dana Point, California
Located in Orange County, the Pacific Ocean–facing, Monarch Beach Resort delivers a coastal getaway with championship golf, spa services, watersports and delicious dining. With 169 acres of gardens and flowers surrounding the property, you truly feel as if you’ve escaped to a tropical paradise.
Highlights include Stonehill Tavern, which serves award-winning chef Michael Mina’s contemporary American cuisine; the Miraval Life in Balance Spa, with more than 70 treatments, many of which feature California-inspired ingredients like crystal salt stones, algae and marine mud; and the 18-hole course at Monarch Beach Golf Links. Of course, if you’d rather lounge at the beach, surf butlers will help with anything from lounge chairs to lessons.
The hotel’s Monarch Moments Package, which includes accommodations and breakfast, also provides a daily $100 resort credit, which can be used any way you like.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Located in the upscale Recoleta district, the Four-Star Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires offers the usual luxurious Four Seasons experience, but with local flair. Décor throughout the 165-room hotel, which is composed of a modern tower and a 20th-century Belle Époque mansion connected via an outdoor pool and terrace, celebrates Argentina’s polo history. Expect lots of horse sculptures and art throughout.
Book an ideal weekend getaway with the Bed & Breakfast package, which comes with breakfast at Elena, the hotel’s stellar restaurant. Stop by the warm and welcoming Pony Line Lounge for pre- or post-dinner drinks.
If you book a Preferred Floor room or suite, you also gain access to the Library, a lounge area with complimentary internet access and non-alcoholic drinks.
Montage Kapalua Bay, Photo Credit: Montage Hotels and Resorts
Lahaina, Hawaii
Maui’s 24-acre Five-Star Montage Kapalua Bay is an oasis located inside of a 22,000-acre paradise named Kapalua Resort. The exclusive property sits on the stunning Kapalua Bay, adjacent to the more than 8,000 protected acres of the Puu Kukui Watershed Preserve. The property includes all-suite accommodations, plus exquisite dining options, championship golf, watersports and an award-winning spa. Units range from two- to four-bedroom options, and all are equipped with gourmet kitchens.
The three-night Montage Stay & Play package grants you one round of golf or one spa treatment per day for up to two people per room, valet parking and daily breakfast at Cane & Canoe. Other activities include hiking the extensive nature trails, zip lining and exploring the nature reserves.
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs’ 314-room Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa offers everything from lively entertainment to luxurious spa treatments and a popular casino. Rooms and suites are impressive, but the resort’s 24 Executive Suites are enormous — 1,100 square feet of space with amenities like a wet bar and jetted spa tub.
The property’s Retreat For Two Getaway includes a romantically decorated Deluxe Room with a welcome amenity of champagne and strawberries delivered to your room. Keep things passionate with a stop at Sunstone Spa, especially if you reserve a private cabana. There you’ll find everything you need (a whirlpool and food service) to laze the day away.
At night, The Steakhouse is the perfect place to dine before seeing a live show (Sting, February 11; Lynyrd Skynyrd, March 3) or trying your luck at the tables.
