Top hotels for the perfect European escape
From the white sandy beaches of Mykonos to the hallowed streets of Whitehall, here are five glorious new addresses to call home
It’s August, and just about all of Europe is on holiday. Beaches are packed, bars are full and the best restaurant tables are hard to come by. But, happily, here comes September, when that all starts to change.
As locals — and many tourists — head back to the office, the hotspots of Europe start to empty out to a more comfortable level of bustle. The searing summer heat also comes off the boil, making September perhaps the finest time of year to sneak in a late-summer escape. And there is certainly no shortage of gorgeous places to stay, with a post-Covid-19 hotel boom delivering big-name brands and boutique openings to some of Europe’s most lust-worthy corners. From the white sandy beaches of Mykonos to the hallowed streets of Whitehall, here are five glorious new addresses to call home.
SON BUNYOLA HOTEL & VILLAS, SPAIN
Serial entrepreneur Richard Branson has expanded his collection of hotels and resorts with the opening in June of Son Bunyola Hotel & Villas on a private estate in Mallorca. Centred around a historic finca — a traditional country manor house — the hotel offers dramatic views from each of the 26 rooms and suites. There’s a modern farmhouse feel here, with tones of Mallorcan stone and wood offset by a bold island palette.
THE CARLTON, CANNES
How deep are your pockets? If you’re in search of a little Mediterranean glamour, look no further than The Carlton, an icon of the French Riviera that recently wrapped up a major renovation. The Carlton dates back to 1913, the first luxury hotel in Cannes, and has reclaimed its crown as the most elegant destination in this neck of the Med. The revamp has added a Mediterranean garden, infinity pool, fitness centre and two new wings to the hotel. There are plenty of nods to the hotel’s heritage, from soaring marble columns to Murano chandeliers, while the 332 rooms and suites (but only 70 or so with a sea view) are really just somewhere to change before hitting the Carlton Beach Club.
This article first appeared in Wanted Online.