Planning a festive break but can’t decide whether to head to a beach, or hit the slopes? We’ve picked the best winter destinations to help you make up your mind.
In partnership with MATCHESFASHION.
SUN
There’s plenty to be said for a warm winter getaway to lands of sun-kissed sands and sparkling waters. It’s the chance to top up your vitamin D levels, and return home with a golden glow for the new year.
MAURITIUS
STAY
Since its extensive refurbishment, the One&Only Le Saint Géran has been transformed into an island icon, with a gleaming new spa, water-side dining pavilions, and a revamped kids’ club. Thanks to its prime location – built around a sheltered lagoon on the north-eastern coast – the hotel benefits from white sandy beaches and clear, calm waters all year round.
CANARY ISLANDS
STAY
Beloved by royalty and celebrities, Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque Resort is set on the stunning south coast of Tenerife with swaying palm trees and clear blue skies. Guests can enjoy private beach access and unparalleled facilities including five outdoor pools, a star-gazing observatory, and no less than 21 bars and restaurants.
SNOW
If walking in a winter wonderland is more your thing, there are also plenty of magical destinations where you can hunker down in cosy cabins or hit the slopes for a more energetic escape.
Austria
STAY
James Bond fans will recognise Ice Q, the glass-panelled restaurant at Das Central in Sölden, as the office of Léa Seydoux’s character in Spectre. The resort is a favourite with adrenaline-junkie skiers, who are drawn to the towering Austrian Alps and guaranteed snow, not to mention the fondue room in the basement.
Lapland
STAY
Watch the northern lights from your bed at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel, in Finland’s northernmost territory of Lapland, where reindeer outnumber people. Here, suites on stilts are nestled between the pine tree forest and kitted out in true Nordic style with painted wood, furry throws and designer chairs.
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