11 travel ideas to inspire your summer holiday
From boutique hotels to bespoke walking holidays, here are 11 travel ideas you won’t want to miss.
Whether you’re looking for holiday inspiration or interested in acquiring your own European property, these companies and experiences will put you in good stead to fulfil your travel dreams this summer.
Discover Dubai with a luxury excursion
Hero Experiences Group delivers Dubai’s most exceptional and immersive luxury adventures, where guests can explore all that both the city and desert have to offer, from every incredible angle.
Traverse the dunes in an iconic vintage Land Rover or a modern Defender on an eco-luxury desert safari while learning about local culture. Wonder at the endless golden dunes from a hot air balloon over the Dubai desert, or marvel at the city’s iconic skyline as you soar up to 1,000ft high over Palm Jumeirah on an air balloon ride starting from the world-famous Atlantis Hotel.
Hero Experiences Group saves you time and effort by enabling you to book everything with one company, so you can take charge and be the hero of your own adventure.
Take the first step towards a healthier you on a spa retreat
SPA VILNIUS is a leading wellness brand with hotels in Druskininkai and Anykščiai, Lithuania. Each centre provides a unique blend of experiences tailored to enhance wellbeing, offering traditional and innovative spa treatments as well as health and beauty consultations.
Incorporating natural resources and leveraging a century of expertise, SPA VILNIUS is committed to helping to improve wellness, quality of life and preventing disease. Guests at the Druskininkai location can embrace the healing power of the nearby natural mineral water spring, too.
The therapeutic programme is an intensive package of up to six treatments per day, integrating various modalities such as massage, movement therapy and mineral water treatment. Individuals receive a comprehensive programme that leaves you feeling revived and refreshed, including consultations with professional physicians and a delicious breakfast and dinner buffet included.
Receive an 18% discount on the therapeutic programme with code SPA2024. Offer valid until 23 December 2024.
Immerse yourself in the ultimate boutique hotel experience
Discover a bohemian paradise at Boho Club, Marbella, a vibrant holiday resort offering an oasis of style, sophistication and relaxation.
Boho Club has a range of amenities to enhance your holiday experience — indulge in gourmet cuisine curated by award-winning executive chef Diego Del Río or unwind by the pool. With 323,000sq ft of lush gardens and hangout areas, the unbeatable warm and dry Marbella climate means they can be enjoyed all year round.
Boho Club offers 40 cosy rooms and bungalows, two swimming pools, one restaurant with a kitchen and bar, a pool bar, an outdoor gym and an art gallery shop. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, a chic retreat with friends or a memorable party and event venue, Boho Club’s sophisticated style and contemporary design has got you covered.
Experience a private paradise in Thailand
Located on Koh Lanta in Krabi, a southern province of Thailand, the breathtaking Pimalai Resort & Spa offers the perfect escape.
A journey into indulgence, adventure and sustainability starts when guests disembark from a private boat and set foot on the pristine Kantiang Bay, where they’re serenaded by the buzzing of cicadas. Guests at Pimalai are invited to enjoy the finer things in life, embrace serenity amid lush surroundings and embark on exciting excursions to connect with Mother Nature.
There are 121 spacious rooms, suites and villas in the tropical hillside landscape, each decorated with luxurious accents and Thai flair. Private balconies serve as vantage points from which you can appreciate mesmerising views — from glorious vegetation and the half-mile long beachfront at the foot of the hill to the sweeping bay and glistening Andaman Sea.
Embark on a walking adventure
Contours Holidays has over 25 years of experience in organising unforgettable self-guided outdoor adventure holidays right here in the UK. The brand specialises in creating tours that centre around you, taking all the stress out of planning a long-distance, multi-day walk.
This includes booking your nightly accommodation, moving your luggage from point to point, providing a comprehensive holiday pack with maps and guidebooks and offering 24/7 phone support.
Simply choose your trail, your start date and your ideal mileages, and Contours Holidays will do the rest. Whether you opt for the famous, well-trodden National Trails of Hadrian’s Wall, Offa’s Dyke, or prefer a lesser-known path such as the Nidderdale Way or the Shropshire Hills, Contours Holidays will craft the perfect UK walking break for you.
New customers receive a £25 discount per person on any 2024 holiday booking with code UTGWELCOME2024. Offer exclusive to Independent readers. Offer ends 21 December 2024.
Don’t lose power on your next adventure
Camping has changed a lot over the past decade. You can now watch Netflix under the stars, launch your camera drone 100ft up into the air to capture the landscape, cook up a show-stopping feast or make barista-level coffee.
To do all that, however, you’ll need a reliable power source, which is where the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro 2160Wh/2000W comes in. It charges in just two hours and provides the power you need to keep your devices going when you’re camping, hiking or exploring.
Simply put, it’s the perfect partner for all your outdoor adventures.
Stay in a revitalised noble estate
Precise Tale Poggio Sala in Tuscany is a 19th-century villa that’s been restored to its glorious past. Once the cherished estate of the Bonci-Casuccini family, this heritage site has been brought back to life in a harmonious blend of old-world charm and contemporary elegance.
Indulge in a delectable fusion of pan-Asian and Italian flavours at La Via Della Sata restaurant as you admire magnificent frescos and vaulted ceilings. Located close to the picturesque landscape of Montepulciano where natural beauty and history intertwine to create a stunning family-friendly getaway that embraces sustainable luxury and modern hospitality.
With a complimentary fourth night available upon booking, escape to the heart of Italy for a holiday to remember.
Discover a heart-shaped peninsula in Croatia
Whether you’re seeking adventure, culture, culinary delights or simply hoping to bask in the sun, Istra is the perfect place to explore on your own terms.
A stunning heart-shaped peninsula on the Croatian coast, Istria has more than 100 hotels to choose from.
Fly straight to Pula and stay in one of the modern hotels offering rooms with breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea. Tour the pretty town and indulge in gourmet dining at exquisite restaurants. Book a half-day trip inland for a unique truffle-hunting experience, followed by tasting fresh sliced truffle over pasta or scrambled eggs.
If you feel like exploring, rent a car and drive to the nearby fishing town, Fažana, where you can take a boat to National Park Brijuni Island. Complete your stay by attending a concert or film festival in the Roman amphitheatre of Pula.
Get advice from European market-leading property experts
Savills Hellas (an International Associate of Savills) is a market-leading real estate services provider offering a broad range of specialist advisory, management and transactional services to clients in Greece, and its neighbouring countries.
Since it was founded in 1977, the company has established itself as a powerful player on the property scene, combining local expertise with a global network. The performance-driven team of experts work with investors, landlords, developers and tenants to maximise the value of their real estate assets and to identify the best solutions.
Whether you’re in the market for a property or seeking expert advice, Savills Hellas work across the commercial and residential sectors offering advice and services on investment, letting negotiations, acquisitions and disposals, lease renewals and negotiations and timetabling and cost estimations.
Experience the timeless elegance of an Irish country house
Situated within 300 acres of land in East Cork, just 30 minutes from Cork City, Ballymaloe House Hotel is a family-owned countryside retreat blending historic charm and the very best of Irish hospitality.
The property has 30 bedrooms and two suites, situated in the main house and the courtyard. Unfolding across seven dining rooms, the farm-to-table dining experience uses seasonal produce from the walled garden, the farm and local producers to curate a five-course culinary journey concluding with the internationally renowned dessert trolley.
Guests can enjoy on-site activities such as walking trails and guided tours by a family or team member, while seasonal delights include summer swimming, cycling, croquet or exploring an outdoor sculpture exhibition.
Escape to a five-star adults-only resort in Crete
Just a short drive away from Chania Town’s famous picturesque harbour, Atlantica Kalliston Resort invites guests to experience the authentic Cretan spirit. Combining modern design with comfort, this five-star resort has tasteful decor and luxury offerings.
From the refined elegance of gourmet fine dining, where candlelight sets the mood — to a selection of street food outlets, every moment promises a feast for the senses. Embrace the serenity of your own personal haven with swim-out or private pools, starting the day with a delicious poolside breakfast or a picnic excursion, and ending with enchanting sunset dinners.
Opt for premium all-inclusive and enjoy 24/7 room service for late snack cravings (tray service cost applies), indulge in unlimited a la carte dining throughout your stay and enjoy a selection of branded international drinks.
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