Holiday Type / Christmas

Lying in the exclusive enclave of Legettaz, close to Val d’Isère’s chic centre, this boutique collection of five luxury lodges boasts enviable slope-side access. Offering a fully catered bespoke service, a private chef, chauffeur, concierge and experienced chalet hosts are on hand to arrange everything from delivering your lift pass to you with your first breakfast and arranging lunch reservations at the best mountain restaurants, to ski hire and lessons. An exquisite base from which to explore L’Espace Killy, Le Kilimanjaro is a winter retreat...

The only hotel in the Spanish Pyrenees with a five-star Grand Luxury official rating, the Val de Neu in Baqueira 1500 offers state of-the-art living with exquisite touches of traditional design. Deluxe rooms, most with riveting mountain views, feature hydro massage showers and independent climate control, while Suites and Junior Suites have two separate living spaces. Dining spans traditional cuisine accompanied by a prestigious wine menu at El Bosque; more informal mountain fondues and raclettes at La Fondue and battery-recharging snacks at El...

Commanding a superb location within the ski connoisseur’s paradise of Arosa, this Member of the Leading Hotels of the World prides itself on high levels of personal service. Generously sized rooms and suites, designed with colourful flair by Carlo Rampazzi, boast large picture windows and up-to-the-moment amenities. Varied dining options encompass five venues including the Michelin-starred La Vetta and fine dining fast food at The Basement. When it’s time to hit the slopes, a touch of a button hails the hotel’s own private mountain railway car ...

Distinguished by views from the top of Utsuvaara hill to the pine-clad wilderness beyond, the three-storey Villa Laavu blends modern amenities with a traditional wood cabin feel. A log fire provides the focal point in a spacious open-plan living space with high ceilings and large windows, while seven bedrooms provide comfortable accommodation for families, sleeping up to fourteen. Five of the bedrooms are en suite; with the master bedroom also featuring a mini kitchenette and balcony. On the terrace, a welcoming Jacuzzi tempts relaxation. Prepa...

Nestled at the foot of Blackcomb, you’ll find the Four Seasons - Canada’s only AAA Five Diamond resort. Few mountain residences can boast such a combination of scenic grandeur, welcoming luxury and family-friendly touches. The luxury hotel has fluff factor in abundance: the rooms are like heavenly cocoons, featuring cosy wood interiors, gas-burning fireplaces and bathrooms that are as lavish as they are enormous. Guests will appreciate the hotel shuttle for quick and easy access to the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb, the exclusive Ski Elite instr...

Designed in the spirit of the Orient, Arabian Court sits at the heart of the resort, its dramatic architecture housing an enchanting landscape of courtyards and fountains. Surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, a reflecting pool draws the eye to the horizon and pristine waters of the Arabian Gulf. All guest rooms and suites face the sea and feature a private balcony or terrace, with accommodation comprising Deluxe Rooms, Falcon Executive Suites and two Princes Suites. Choose from three superb dining options – Nina, Eauzone and The Rotisserie –...

Tucked away in secluded scented gardens peppered with a pool, fountains and shady gazebos, One&Only Royal Mirage - Residence & Spa offers an elegant haven where pampering is the predominant indulgence. Its distinguished accommodation includes Prestige Rooms, Junior and Executive Suites and an ultra-chic two-bedroom Beach Garden Villa with its own temperature-controlled swimming pool, deluxe kitchenette and grand Arabesque-style entertaining lounge. All accommodations are exceptionally spacious with a sea-facing private balcony or terrace and la...

The Palace is a regal beachfront domain where guests will enjoy exploring the landscaped gardens resplendent with exotic flora and criss-crossed by meandering water features. Adorned with ornamental arches, individually designed guest rooms and suites are all sea facing and feature a private balcony or terrace to maximise the shimmering Gulf views. Dining within the walls of The Palace offers a taste of the Mediterranean at Olives with its casual all-day dining, and truly Moroccan influences at Tagine where lanterns, oriental rugs and quiet alc...

Dusky pink low-rise buildings and a pristine natural beach await 20 minutes from downtown Dubai. Glamorous even by Dubai’s elevated standards, this resplendent resort brings fresh sophistication to Jumeirah Beach. Ultra-spacious guest rooms and suites blend authentic Arabic themes with contemporary styling, all having a large balcony with dining table and opulent marble floored bathrooms featuring a silver-leaf ceiling and Murano glass pendant. Entered through a shared vestibule, most rooms are ideally set up for families. Prestigious dining de...

Set in an elevated position by two kilometres of private beachfront, Al Qasr captures the magnificence of a Sheikh’s summer residence. Majestic in every sense it is approached via a tree-lined avenue adorned with sculpted Arabian horses, the unrestrained opulence continuing through to the spacious rooms and suites, each offering views over the lush gardens or glinting Arabian Gulf. World-class restaurants and bars with alfresco terraces provide a thousand and one delights, the Arboretum being a perennial favourite thanks to its international me...

The traditional courtyard summer houses of old Arabia inspired the stunning two-storey summer houses that grace this enchanting resort where all rooms and suites have been fully refurbished in contemporary Arabian style and come complete with twenty four hour butler service. Accessible by scenic waterways and leafy pathways, each living space is light, spacious and beautifully appointed with every conceivable modern comfort inside and out. Reached by traditional abra boat, Pai Thai, the resort’s romantic Thai restaurant, is a sublime alfresco s...

A beautifully authentic expression of Arabian architecture, Jumeirah Mina A’ Salam, meaning ‘harbour of peace’, is a grand boutique hotel of exquisite style. Surrounded by tranquil waters the property is the gateway to the rest of the Madinat Jumeirah resort and entry point to the network of enchanting waterways and walkways. All suites and guest rooms have been fully refurbished in contemporary Arabian style, each richly adorned in Arabian fabrics and artefacts. Several bars and lounges are interwoven with first class restaurants including Zhe...

A resplendent gem on Tenerife’s Costa Adeje, this member of The Leading Hotels of the World is a luxury resort on several levels, comprising three distinct areas of accommodation. In addition to the colourful rooms and suites arranged in a horseshoe around the pools, there are the Casas Ducales. Designed by Pascua Ortega, they form a hotel within a hotel featuring Canarian-style houses with special services including those of a resident butler. The luxuriant Las Villas form the third section, complete with their own private reception and readin...

Al Bandar – meaning “the town”– is the focal point of the resort featuring a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and bars. Centrally located within the resort complex its romantic architecture has been inspired by Old Muscat, with buildings of varying height adorned by an array of ornate balconies. The pools and waterways which abound throughout the property make relaxing viewing from the generously sized sea-facing guestrooms decorated in modern Arabian fashion, all with a balcony or patio. There’s complimentary Wi-Fi in all rooms along with in...

Situated on a headland commanding panoramic views, a pinnacle of the vacation experience is the adult-oriented and ultra-opulent Al Husn. Deluxe rooms, which are amongst the largest in Oman, feature lavish décor inspired by royal Arabian palaces and come complete with balconies or terraces from which to admire the views of the courtyard and pool; deluxe sea view rooms open up entrancing panoramas of the Gulf of Oman from their furnished balconies. Culinary experiences, accessible only to Al Husn guests, include a beach grill serving fresh seafo...

Family-popular Al Waha is the largest of the three hotels that make up Shangri-La’s Omani portfolio. Meaning “The Oasis”, this idyllic escape is dotted with several swimming pools and surrounded by date palm trees. The family accommodation comprises two interconnecting rooms that look over the lush gardens and glittering pools towards the Gulf of Oman, kitted out with a PlayStation and a section of games on request. An array of eateries provides delicious dining options. Between Al Waha and Al Bandar lies the enchanting beachfront Bait al Bahr ...

With twenty six storeys and a design inspired by the shape of a breaking wave, the iconic Jumeirah Beach Hotel is a striking Dubai landmark. Located less than thirty minutes from the city centre, guests can take advantage of renowned Dubai attractions such as the Mall of Emirates, Dubai Marina and Emirates Golf Club. With its own private beach, this family friendly hotel offers an array of amenities for guests to enjoy. Choose from twenty one restaurants, bars and cafés – ranging from the casual to the elegant and the local to the international...

Majestic and magnificent, the Kempinski managed Emirates Palace stands on a 1.3 kilometre private beach in impressive landscaped gardens. Gold finials and mosaic glass tiles top a veritable sea of domes and cupolas – the whole development reflecting the infinite shades of the Arabian sands. Quite possibly the most expensive hotel ever built, it welcomes the discerning guest with accommodation of unparalleled opulence. Each room and suite conveys a masterful blend of regal splendour and cutting edge gadgetry, featuring advanced multimedia system...

A mix of innovative cuisine and alpine hospitality draws a discerning clientele to La Pleta, renowned for its personal touches and superlative valley views. Couples and families alike are impeccably catered for, split-level family options including Occitania Suites featuring separate living and dining areas, Jacuzzi bathtub and goose feather bedding. Innovative cuisine ranges from Catalan specialities at Restaurant Del Gel al Foc and contemporary Japanese at La Pleta Sushi to traditional Swiss favourites at the recently-opened La Racletterie. H...