Often we come across extraordinary places that take our breath away. Even more exhilarating is when we learn of the stories from the people responsible for their creation.
From Guy Laliberte’s unspoilt private island Nukutepipi in French Polynesia and Louis Bacon’s private paradise in Panama to Paul Lister’s Alladale estate in the Scottish Highlands and Jochen Zeitz’s safari retreat Segera in Kenya — here we shine the spotlight on the extraordinary people and their visions that have brought these places to life….
For 50 years, the De Santis family has owned Lake Como’s iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Now the jewel in the crown is the family’s latest passion project,Passalacqua, which has been hailed theWorld’s Best Hotel. It’s no surprise once you’ve met daughter, Valentina; her unstuffy and genuinely welcoming take on Italian family hospitality shines in everything she does, which has us dreaming of life by the lake...
People often ask how we have such an encyclopaedic knowledge of the world we share. Travelling extensively to all corners of the globe not only gives us firsthand knowledge to report back on, but also the chance to meet like-minded adventurers, artists, explorers and entrepreneurs along the way – people who, like us, think beyond borders and imagine the unimaginable.
To design memorable and meaningful travel experiences, we work with an intricate network who live and breathe the places they call home. It’s not just a breathtaking location that inspires us, it is also the people behind it who really help bring the experience to life.
Monaco Yacht Show September 2018 – each September the superyacht industry descends on Monaco for a show and tell of the newest advances in yacht technologies, largest superyachts and super sea toys. This year we attended the Monaco Yacht Show and scoped out our favourite superyachts for luxurious comfort and limitless cruising, including M/Y Cloud 9, M/Y Planet Nine, S/Y Marie and S/Y Sybaris.
As Creative Director of the iconic Italian hotel group, Il Pellicano, Marie-Louise Sciò oozes Italy’s la dolce vita. Growing up in a Slim Aarons photograph at her family’s legendary hotel, Il Pellicano, on the Tuscan coast, Marie-Louise is now at the helm of the much-adored hotels. Here we take a few moments to be whisked away to bella Italia and talk travel in a post-pandemic world.
From the couple behind Babylonstoren – South Africa’s much-loved hotel & vineyard – comes The Newt in Somerset, a magnificent Palladian-fronted Grade II-listed stone mansion surrounded by acres of cultivated gardens, wild meadows, ancient woodland and apple orchards. Innovative design is paired with superb service, a world-class spa and a farm-to-table restaurant at this newly-opened hotel in the heart of the English countryside.
Where to go for the world’s best kitesurfing? The answer is the laidback yet luxurious beach retreat of Casana on Brazil’s northeast coast. The vision of two globetrotting kitesurfers, Casana makes the most of perfect conditions where consistent wind meets endless stretches of sands and exhilarating waters have earned the quiet fishing village of Préa a sought-after reputation as a kitesurfer’s paradise.
Tucked away along Southern California’s Pacific Coast Highway, Nobu Ryokan’s unassuming wooden doors slide open to reveal a serene, exclusive escape that effortlessly blends Malibu’s famed Carbon Beach with a luxurious Japanese hideaway. Combining California’s stunning oceanfront setting with Japanese Zen-like minimalist interiors, Nobu’s beautiful boutique hotel takes inspiration from the simplistic aesthetic of a traditional ryokan with smooth textures of polished teak, bronze and limestone, which are accented with Japanese soaking tubs, tatami mats and shoji screens.
Meet Giberto, Venetian artist and glass-smith, who happens to call the Aman Venice home. The Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga family had been living in Palazzo Papadopoli on Venice's Grand Canal for the past 200 years when five years ago the ultra luxe hotel group, Aman, approached them with the idea to renovate and turn the palazzo into their most exciting European hotel opening. With Giberto and his family remaining residents on the top floor, the palazzo has become one of the finest in Venice and perhaps Italy.
Morocco is a land of stark contrasts – from centuries-old traditions, dramatic landscapes, vivid colours and striking design – the country is a melting pot for creative minds. Marrakech in particular has inspired designers for decades. The ‘pink city’ was a huge influence for Yves Saint Laurent who first visited in 1966 and which has since prompted the opening of the new YSL Museum set in the stunning surrounds of Jardin Majorelle.
