Top 10 Hideaways & Inns
Located in the heart of County Mayo in western Ireland, the luxurious Ashford castle, dating from the 12th century, is as romantic a place as one could desire.
Photograph by Getty Images
From the National Geographic book The
10 Best of Everything1. Auberge du Soleil
Rutherford, California
www.aubergedusoleil.com
Napa Valley's magical wine country is the backdrop for this elegant hotel, opened in 1985. The accommodations feature Mediterranean decor; guests have their choice of rooms in the main building
or several private cottages on the
hillside. The restaurant offers a wine list that reflects the best of the area.
At the spa, therapists use special herb-infused oils made from plants and herbs
growing in the garden. There's a heated pool here, as well as a sun deck.www.aubergedusoleil.com
Napa Valley's magical wine country is the backdrop for this elegant hotel, opened in 1985. The accommodations feature Mediterranean decor; guests have their choice of rooms in the main building
2. The Inn at Little Washington
Washington, Virginia
www.theinnatlittlewashington.com
For two decades, Patrick O'Connell and Reinhardt Lynch have run this renowned hotel in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Its 15 charming rooms and suites are meticulous in their details, including one decorated in the exotic style and color of the Far East, and another with its sun-drenched reading room. The luxurious, highly decorated restaurant—one of the top in the world, its cuisine a delectable mix of classical French and modern—is the place to take anyone you want to impress.
www.theinnatlittlewashington.com
For two decades, Patrick O'Connell and Reinhardt Lynch have run this renowned hotel in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Its 15 charming rooms and suites are meticulous in their details, including one decorated in the exotic style and color of the Far East, and another with its sun-drenched reading room. The luxurious, highly decorated restaurant—one of the top in the world, its cuisine a delectable mix of classical French and modern—is the place to take anyone you want to impress.
3. Ashford Castle
Cong, Ireland
www.ashford.ie
Located in the heart of County Mayo in western Ireland, this luxurious castle, dating from the 12th century, is as romantic a place as one could desire. Rooms are decorated in cheerful pastels. The hotel has two dining rooms and three bars; a very traditional afternoon tea is served in the drawing room. An interesting array of activities is offered outdoors; there are three running trails, two tennis courts, archery and falconry lessons, and a tour boat that docks at the castle's jetty twice a day to ferry guests across Lake Corrib. The resort also provides tours led by pony-drawn carriages or traps around the grounds.
www.ashford.ie
Located in the heart of County Mayo in western Ireland, this luxurious castle, dating from the 12th century, is as romantic a place as one could desire. Rooms are decorated in cheerful pastels. The hotel has two dining rooms and three bars; a very traditional afternoon tea is served in the drawing room. An interesting array of activities is offered outdoors; there are three running trails, two tennis courts, archery and falconry lessons, and a tour boat that docks at the castle's jetty twice a day to ferry guests across Lake Corrib. The resort also provides tours led by pony-drawn carriages or traps around the grounds.
4. Pangkor Laut Resort
Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
www.pangkorlautresort.com
Truly isolated in the middle of the Straits of Malacca, where the only noise comes from clacking palms and the gentle surf, Pangkor Laut is the true definition of paradise. A collection of Malaysian-style luxury villas dot this privately owned island located three miles (five kilometers) off Malaysia's west coast. Only 250 guests reside at Pangkor Laut at any given time. These lucky few are served by 400 staff, including 50 gardeners who make sure that every flower looks its best on the perfectly manicured grounds. This is the place to lounge in complete bliss.
www.pangkorlautresort.com
Truly isolated in the middle of the Straits of Malacca, where the only noise comes from clacking palms and the gentle surf, Pangkor Laut is the true definition of paradise. A collection of Malaysian-style luxury villas dot this privately owned island located three miles (five kilometers) off Malaysia's west coast. Only 250 guests reside at Pangkor Laut at any given time. These lucky few are served by 400 staff, including 50 gardeners who make sure that every flower looks its best on the perfectly manicured grounds. This is the place to lounge in complete bliss.
5. Ojai Valley Inn and Spa
Ojai, California
www.ojairesort.com
This special historic Spanish inn sits surrounded by groves of orange trees, towering oaks, individual casitas, and hundreds of shaded acres in a secluded valley of southern California. It is loved for its championship PGA golf course and superb spa facility, stables, art classes, and great restaurants that serve fruits, vegetables, and herbs harvested in the inn's own gardens.
www.ojairesort.com
This special historic Spanish inn sits surrounded by groves of orange trees, towering oaks, individual casitas, and hundreds of shaded acres in a secluded valley of southern California. It is loved for its championship PGA golf course and superb spa facility, stables, art classes, and great restaurants that serve fruits, vegetables, and herbs harvested in the inn's own gardens.
6. Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
Gret Milton, Oxford, England
www.manoir.com
One reason many people come to this contemporary hotel is to take classes at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School The chef has established a reputation as the maker of amazing dishes; many of the ingredients are grown right in the Manoir's magnificent gardens, where Blanc grows more than 90 varieties of vegetables and 70 types of herbs. The 32 rooms and suites are in the main house and garden wing; those in the main house are furnished in a more traditional style; those in the garden wing look more contemporary.
www.manoir.com
One reason many people come to this contemporary hotel is to take classes at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School The chef has established a reputation as the maker of amazing dishes; many of the ingredients are grown right in the Manoir's magnificent gardens, where Blanc grows more than 90 varieties of vegetables and 70 types of herbs. The 32 rooms and suites are in the main house and garden wing; those in the main house are furnished in a more traditional style; those in the garden wing look more contemporary.
7. The Point
Saranac Lake, New York
thepointresort.com
This rambling lodge used to be a country estate for the Rockefeller family. Located on a lake in New York's wild Adirondack Mountains, the resort is the perfect combination of wilderness and civilization. The 11 rooms—spread out in four buildings—have stone fireplaces and eclectic mixes of antique and (of course) Adirondack furniture. Guests can hike or swim in warm weather and tackle winter sports such as cross-country skiing in the cold.
thepointresort.com
This rambling lodge used to be a country estate for the Rockefeller family. Located on a lake in New York's wild Adirondack Mountains, the resort is the perfect combination of wilderness and civilization. The 11 rooms—spread out in four buildings—have stone fireplaces and eclectic mixes of antique and (of course) Adirondack furniture. Guests can hike or swim in warm weather and tackle winter sports such as cross-country skiing in the cold.
8. Hotel Splendido
Portofino, Italy
www.hotelsplendido.com
Situated in possibly one of the prettiest spots in Italy, Hotel Splendido overlooks the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea. Most of the 65 rooms have water views. The restaurants' cuisine is top-notch; chefs use products from the hotel's olive grove. Eat outside on the terraces or inside in elegantly decorated rooms.
www.hotelsplendido.com
Situated in possibly one of the prettiest spots in Italy, Hotel Splendido overlooks the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea. Most of the 65 rooms have water views. The restaurants' cuisine is top-notch; chefs use products from the hotel's olive grove. Eat outside on the terraces or inside in elegantly decorated rooms.
9. Las Ventanas al Paraíso
Los Cabos, Mexico
www.lasventanas.com
The name of this ultraprivate, luxury resort means "window to paradise," which is right on in this case. Tucked in between desert and ocean, its white hacienda-style casitas descend toward the beach and feature Jacuzzis, terra-cotta fireplaces, and rough-hewn wood accents. The dazzling windows of each suite are fashioned from rainbow glass created by local artisans; each balcony comes equipped with telescope to scan for whales or stars; and each minibar is personalized according to a questionnaire guests fill out before arrival. There's also a spa (one treatment uses gems and crystals), plenty of excellent food (including a separate pet menu), and infinity pools that seem to disappear into the ocean.
www.lasventanas.com
The name of this ultraprivate, luxury resort means "window to paradise," which is right on in this case. Tucked in between desert and ocean, its white hacienda-style casitas descend toward the beach and feature Jacuzzis, terra-cotta fireplaces, and rough-hewn wood accents. The dazzling windows of each suite are fashioned from rainbow glass created by local artisans; each balcony comes equipped with telescope to scan for whales or stars; and each minibar is personalized according to a questionnaire guests fill out before arrival. There's also a spa (one treatment uses gems and crystals), plenty of excellent food (including a separate pet menu), and infinity pools that seem to disappear into the ocean.
10. Hôtel Guanahani & Spa
St. Barts
www.leguanahani.com
Here is a romantic tropical hideaway, where guests settle into cottages painted in bright shades of yellow, blue, purple, and green. Each one is outfitted in refreshingly simple wooden furniture, and all have their own terraces and gardens. The resort rests on a swath of land that runs between the Caribbean and a lagoon. Water sports are big here, from windsurfing to jet skiing. Scuba diving classes are taught too, so guests can explore the colorful underwater world around then. Guanahani also has a posh spa that carries Clarins products and treatments. Source Article
www.leguanahani.com
Here is a romantic tropical hideaway, where guests settle into cottages painted in bright shades of yellow, blue, purple, and green. Each one is outfitted in refreshingly simple wooden furniture, and all have their own terraces and gardens. The resort rests on a swath of land that runs between the Caribbean and a lagoon. Water sports are big here, from windsurfing to jet skiing. Scuba diving classes are taught too, so guests can explore the colorful underwater world around then. Guanahani also has a posh spa that carries Clarins products and treatments. Source Article
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