Opening of Noku Phuket

Noku Hotels has announced the opening of Noku Phuket. It is the fourth Noku hotel after Noku Kyoto, Noku Osaka and Noku Maldives.

A 45 minutes’ journey from Phuket International Airport takes you to the newly built resort that is a hidden gem nestled on the hilltop away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Surrounded by natural flora, the resort features amazing views of the Chalong Bay.

Noku Phuket has been lauded with the Green Mark Gold award recently from the Building Authority of Singapore for its green design and sustainable efforts.

There are a total of 91 spacious Villas and Lofts furnished in soft earthy tones that marries Thai modern architecture with the hotel’s hillside lush greenery.

Each roomy Loft features a large bathroom and balcony that overlook the surrounding forested hills. The spacious Hill Villas provide wonderful sea views over Chalong Bay, and each stand-alone Tree Villa is a private sanctuary nestled amidst a quiet green landscape. Unwind in your private pool in both the Hill and Tree Villas or have a relaxing soak in the sunken bath.

For dining, EMBRACE Restaurant offers guests the opportunity to enjoy mouth-watering Thai dishes using locally sourced ingredients. After a long day of exploring the sights and sounds of Phuket at near-by attractions, guests can wind down and sip cocktails at The Terrace bar while enjoying the panoramic view of Chalong Bay.

Designed around a reflective swimming pool, the Wellness centre features individual spa pavilions with curated massages, an Infra-red room and steam saunas. Other wellness facilities include a fully equipped gym and a yoga room.

The hotel provides complimentary shuttle services to nearby beaches, the Phuket Old Town and shopping malls.

nokuhotels.com/

Last-Minute Grecian Getaway at The Ixian Grand & All Suites

As the summer months draw to a close and the winter blues creep in, there’s no better time to organise a spontaneous trip away at one of Greece’s finest hotels, located on the beautiful island of Rhodes.

The Ixian Grand & All Suites is renowned for its diverse offering, world-class service, unparalleled views of Ixia Bay and the Aegean sea, plus its exceptional hospitality.

Ideally located on the beachfront, the 5-star gem offers an array of stunning accommodation options, each with impressive, high-end facilities. The Grand Suite with Private Pool and Garden View offers comfort, chic décor, and privacy, while the Beachfront Grand Suite set on the waterfront is home to stunning ocean views. The property also features three exquisite freshwater pools and a Jacuzzi corner, along with leisure and sports activities.

Image courtesy of The Ixian Grand & All Suites

Guests can tantalise their tastebuds with an extensive list of restaurant options and bars available, including ‘Milonges’ offering top-quality local Greek favourites and the ‘Muza Htista’ Peruvian A-La-Carte for sumptuous plates of Nikkei cuisine. For cocktail lovers – Truman’s Bar offers some of the best beverages on the island!

For those who seek wellness and pampering, the hotel is home to a luxury wellness Spa, focused on inner healing and rejuvenation, the haven offers an array of treatments, including massages, facials, relaxation programmes and beauty treatments.

Image courtesy of The Ixian Grand & All Suites

The Ixian Grand & All Suites is not just home to impressive facilities and services, but it’s also located on a picture-perfect spot of the island, a short 7km away from Rhodes town and Medival City, and a mere 10-minute drive away from Filerimos, one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes. Visitors can take a trip into the old town to wander through stone-carved alleyways, visit the traditional fountains, museums, churches, boutiques and cafeterias, scattered through the maze-like infrastructure.

theixianallsuites.com/en/

The UK’s best walking breaks for all abilities…

Empty your mind with Bespoke Hotels

With summer crowds beginning to leave for popular holiday destinations abroad, now is the perfect time to spend a weekend exploring the peace and glories of the British countryside. For a calm getaway swapping heaving crowds for tranquil scenery, Bespoke Hotels offers a selection of the UK’s best affordable boutique hotels from which to plan to walk – whether you are seeking seaside hikes or hilltop climbs. Each providing staggering natural scenery and plenty of outdoor adventure – with cosy beds and seriously good local food ready and waiting on your return.

The Noel Arms, Chipping Camped

One of the oldest Cotswold inns, Charles II is said to have stayed here during the English Civil War. Exuding a sense of tradition throughout its 28 rooms, the inn is at the honey-stoned heart of Chipping Campden, overlooking what is often referred to as England’s most picturesque High Street. The Noel Arms marks the start of the Cotswold Way footpath, with its more than 100 miles of scenic walking through open landscapes and idyllic villages. Guests might stop for Sunday tea at the tranquil St. John the Baptist Church with its wonderful view over the Severn valley. Or, if you like a challenge, on 26th June you can join others walking, running and jogging the 100km of the Cotswold Way. Doubles from £99 a night.

The Hunters Inn, Devon 

Located at the centre of 200 acres of National Trust land, the Hunters Inn in North Devon is a traditional country inn with 10 en-suite bedrooms and one two-bedroom self-catering apartment. Many of the rooms feature grand four-posters or balconies with majestic views over gardens and out to Exmoor. This is a convenient resting point for walkers exploring the popular routes through Exmoor National Park – including the Southwest Coast Path – the longest National Trail in the UK, with 630 miles of inspirational coastline. Guests can also make a trip through charming woodland alongside the River Heddon, to where it meets the sea – a rugged gap named Heddon’s Mouth between some of England’s highest cliffs. Look out for otters and the rare high brown fritillary butterfly. After a day of exploring, guests can then relax and unwind at the inn’s Exmoor Restaurant and Bar: the perfect place to refuel with a drink and predominantly fresh local and seasonal dishes alongside traditional pub favourites.  Doubles from £80 a night.

The Lugger Hotel, Cornwall

The award-winning Lugger Hotel  – named ‘Best Seaside Hotel’ by the Sunday Times – sits at the water’s edge in the heart of Portloe – one of the last unspoiled hamlets in Cornwall. Surrounded by commanding headlands and cliffs, this charming 17th-century smuggler’s inn perfectly combines Cornish charm with luxury, featuring deluxe showers and fine linens in each of its 22 bedrooms. The hotel is conveniently situated on the South West Coastal path, giving guests access to picture-perfect coves and rugged coastlines.Visitors can head off to Falmouth harbour – 14 miles away and once the second busiest port of the British Empire – taking in magnificent views and highlights including St Mawes Castle, St Anthony’s Lighthouse and the Dartmoor ponies at Treluggan Cliff. Completing this challenging walk will work up an appetite for dinner at the Lugger Hotel restaurant where guests can enjoy local cuisine that may even have been freshly caught by the village’s own fishing vessels. Doubles from £164 a night.

Arrochar Hotel, Arrochar
The Arrochar Hotel is based at the foot the ‘Arrochar Alps’ on the shores of Loch Long. With 75 comfortable en-suite bedrooms each with stunning views of the Loch, the hotel is the ideal base from which to explore the surrounding countryside. The highest peak of the ‘Arrochar Alps’ is a lofty 3,318 ft but for a slightly shorter hill walk, consider a visit to the Cobbler, also named Ben Arthur, with its distinctive rocky summit. This area offers extraordinary yet accessible adventures after which there is a fine malt whisky in the lounge bar of the Arrochar Hotel and a hearty traditional Scottish meal. Doubles from £57 a night.

bespokehotels.com