Auberge Du Sud \ Merzouga \ Morocco

Located at the base of the spectacular Erg Chebbi Dunes in South Morocco sits Auberge Du Sud, a spectaular desert oasis. Offering luxurious Saharan-style rooms at the hotel, camel trekking, Sahara desert tents and stunning suites in the exclusive Riad, there is something for everyone. It truly is the unique location and proximity to the mythical desert that sets Auberge Du Sud apart. Get swept away in the magical energy of the Sahara...

*images via The Nomadic People

Casa X \ Barcelona \ Spain

There’s something distinctly ‘James Bond’ about this 4-bedroom home just outside Barcelona: an X-shaped concrete and glass construction jutting out from a pine-tree-covered hillside looking out to sea – yes, it’s hard to think of a weekend getaway better suited for a seriously slick spy on a break.
Casa-X is available for both visitors and commercial guests. For couples, families and groups looking for a fantastic place to spend their vacation time, to film directors looking to infuse a little Tom Ford into their next feature film, this place offers both. And we can see why.
Designed by renowned Catalan architects Cadaval & Sola-Morales, Casa X unashamedly stands out from the rest of the more traditional villas set in this affluent area of Cabrils. Inside, it’s a generous 315 square metres distributed over 2 floors; and while its carefully kitted out with a mix of modern décor - think giant contemporary artwork, 60’s style Charles Eames chairs, and oversized light balls – the real star of the show is the view. Wooded mountains and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea are visible from all angles, and reflect off the double height floor-to-ceiling windows. Here, nature and cutting edge design are one.

*text via Clemmy Manzo and images via Jocelyn Mandryk

Hotel La Semilla \ Playa Del Carmen \ Mexico

La Semilla. The seed. Something that you nurture and love. Something that is within all of us, the power to cultivate the extraordinary. That is exactly what the lovely owners, Alexis and Angie, have done with this special space. Instead of developing the property into a large hotel, they kept it at 9 rooms and left a lush garden area for guests to relax and observe the quietness that surrounds. They encourage the slow approach, to reconnect with the earth, each other and yourself. The rest of the property follows suit and is the perfect mix of a simple, refined design, and laid-back atmosphere. Paying homage to the local culture, they embraced a design reflective of Mexican heritage fused with organic forms; sourcing vintage furniture from Mexican haciendas and handmade mosaic tiles, paired with locally sourced stone and polished concrete. This elegant mix of mis-matched furniture, art, and antiques combined with earthly elements is inspired by the Rough Lux movement, that which embraces the imperfection created by the wear and tear of time. Together, these elements create a quality of timelessness and calmness, of authenticity and warmth.

Click here for the full listing.

*images courtesy of Melissa Gidney Daly

Coppersmith Hotel \ Melbourne \ Australia

Surrounded by some of the best boutiques, restaurants, and galleries, this architectural design hotel is ideally located just outside the CBD in South Melbourne. Once the Cricket Club Hotel, this recently renovated boutique hotel has kept the 19th Century facade, but not much else, taking a bold approach with high quality finishes, rock star lighting and hand-crafted furniture. Enjoy a sunset drink on the rooftop with vertical gardens and city views, try the European inspired menu in the ultra-cool bistro, or relax in your stylish room. Coppersmith is laid-back and welcoming. It feels like coming home.

Click here to see the full listing.

*Images courtesy of rockstar contributor Christie Graham.

Riad Anayela \ Marrakech \ Morocco

Named after a note left by a 16 year old girl that was unearthed in the restoration process, Anayela literally means "I am Yela", and with it, a clandestine love story that was hammered into the vast silver doors throughout the house by one of the most renowned calligraphers in Morocco. German entrepreneur Bernd Kolb lovingly restored the gorgeous 300-year-old city palace using only traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, with the entire restoration carried out by hand by more than 100 artisans. In typical palace design, the boutique hotel revolves around a central courtyard with heated limestone pool and features a stunning rooftop terrace that overlooks the historic medina. Complimenting the natural berber-style color palette, the palace is filled with beautiful furnishings, every piece designed by Kolb and finished by Moroccan artisans, creating a hushed sanctuary which is an art piece in itself.

Click here to see the full listing.

*images courtesy of The Nomadic People

Top Travel Trends for 2017

At the beginning of the year, we were interviewed by Elle Decor to share some of our thoughts on the travel trends we would see in 2017. Here are our predictions!

photo: Villa La Semilla via The Perfect Hideaway

FAMILY TRAVEL

The Family Travel trend is growing for both immediate and extended families, using vacations as time to be together instead of the usual Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. It used to be that all-inclusive hotels were the best option, where extended families can enjoy a holiday at the same time, but maintain a bit of space with their own rooms to sleep at night. More and more, however, families are seeking alternative accommodation, such as private homes and villas, where families can all stay at one location. Villa La Semilla, a 5 bedroom fully-catered beachfront villa in the Mayan Riviera just opened its doors and are already booked months in advance with families wanting to holiday together. Exclusive villas like Villa La Semilla are in high demand because of additional perks such as an in-house private chef, concierge, pool and private beach area that make it easy for the guests to completely relax and fully enjoy their holiday.

DEADLINE TRAVEL

Whether it’s due to environmental or political factors, certain destinations carry a sense of urgency to visit sooner than others. People want to see places that are more remote and less “instagrammed”, they want to see those places that are experiencing a lot of change… before they change too much! Commercial tourism in Cuba has already increased significantly, and is expected to continue, as well as trips to the Antarctic and the Great Barrier Reef, where tangible effects from global warming have been seen.

photo: The Great Barrier Reef

WELLNESS RETREATS

People are looking for more personal, enriching experiences. Another growing trend are ‘Active journeys’, such as African Safaris or swimming with whale sharks in Mexico, and specialized wellness retreats like “Sanctu Stays” that focus on meditation, workshops and yoga. Exhale Yoga Retreats currently offers retreats in Nicaragua and El Salvador in addition to 200hr and 300 hr teacher training in Bali. Exhale Yoga Retreats is more than just an escape from your busy life, but is built on the philosophy that bringing together like-minded people creates an empowering sense of connection and inspires profound transformation.

Exhale Yoga Retreat at The Maderas Village

DIGITIAL DETOX

Let’s admit it, we’re all addicted to some point. Similar to the Wellness Retreat trend, Digital Detox has a more specific tech-free focus, spearheading the movement to disconnect regularly from digital devices and reconnect with the world offline. It's Time To Log Off runs retreats in Somerset, Italy and Hawaii.

CURATED TRAVEL

More and more luxury travelers are putting their vacation in the hands of top professionals to guarantee the most exclusive travel experiences tailored to their wildest dreams. Splurging on over-the-top experiences such as private jets, high-end villas, or chartering a yacht, is also becoming more popular. Today’s luxury traveler is veering away from material goods and placing more importance on access, particularly on experiences that none of their friends have done before!

Total Management can organize Porsche ice-rally driving in Sweden, Responsible Travel runs sea-kayaking trips around Indonesia in search of legendary komodo dragons, and Wild Frontiers can take you along the Congo River from Kisangani to Kinshasa.

Luxury Travel with Wild Frontiers

EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL

More and more travelers are wanting to connect and immerse themselves in the local culture when abroad with activities such as cooking classes as well as more exclusive experiences of sampling the eats of private chefs in their own homes. EatWith lets you pick a location (more than 200 cities) and a chef, then book an immersive dining experience or food tour. Meals are typically served at the chef's home and each is vetted by EatWith. Fancy Trini-Land Dinner Party in New York or a Market Tour and Lunch in Florence? You've come to the right place.

EatWith brings chefs and foodies together around the world

TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL

Transformative Travel is the next evolution, taking meaningful interactions and cultural immersion one step further. It can be defined by a shift in perspective, self-reflection and development and a deeper communion with nature and culture. Michael Bennett’s doctoral study identifies a three-phase process consisting of the departure, the initiation, and the return - aka the “hero’s journey” - where travelers venture into the unknown to learn wisdom from cultures and places outside their own, returning home to implement this knowledge, ultimately changing their lives and the lives of others around them. One company to look out for is Butterfield & Robinson, an immersive trip provider anchored in the art of slow travel, encouraging you to "Slow Down to See the World". Amen to that.

Desert sunrise via The Perfect Hideaway

*Stay tuned for The Coolest New Hotel Trends and The Best Travel Gadgets of 2017*

Riad ZamZam \ Marrakech \ Morocco

Located in the heart of the ancient Medina in Marrakech, this beautiful boutique hotel is a traditional riad with 7 rooms and suites, a lavish sitting room with magnificent fireplace, a shady courtyard, refreshing plunge pool, and rooftop terrace with views to the Atlas Mountains. Using only the best local artisans and materials, Riad ZamZam was lovingly restored and beautifully decorated with Moroccan fabrics and handicrafts, French antiques and African Art. This is the ideal place to rest and restore balance from your adventures in the incredible city of Marrakech.

Click here to see the full listing.

*images courtesy of The Nomadic People