Why sailing the Nile by dahabeya is the most timeless way to experience Egypt
Aboard the beautiful Storia the Dahabeya, a four-day journey down the Nile river comes to life with a thousand senses, gliding past palm-fringed banks and golden temples while gentle ripples tap the hull and the call to prayer echoes faintly from distant villages
City Guides
A pocket guide to Roma Norte: Mexico City’s most creative district
Full of characterful, colourful neighbourhoods where culture and cuisine thrive, Mexico City is a magnet for creatives to reside and visit. Condesa remains the go-to for Art Deco architecture and
27 March 2026
How to spend a weekend in Girona
This pocket-sized city couldn’t be more different to its same-coast cousin, Barcelona. Comfortingly walkable and distinctly Catalan, what Girona lacks in size is made up for with its abundant food
24 November 2025
The ultimate Vilnius city guide
With a complicated political past (and present), Lithuania might not typically be top of mind when brainstorming a European getaway. But Vilnius, the country’s vibrant capital, is a burgeoning hub
6 October 2025
The ultimate Madrid city guide
Sometimes overlooked by other European capitals, Spain’s biggest city has so much to offer from world-class museums and galleries to talking-point architecture and a lively music scene. Madrileños also take
11 September 2025
The ultimate Istanbul city guide
The call to prayer rising above the Bosphorus, the scent of spices drifting through centuries-old bazaars, the shimmer of mosaics inside Byzantine domes — Istanbul is a city that stirs
26 August 2025
How to spend a weekend in Cape Town
At the southern tip of Africa, where the iconic Table Mountain tumbles into the formidable Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find Cape Town. It’s as striking as it is energetic, and it’s
11 August 2025
Amsterdam turns 750: why now is the moment to visit the Netherlands’ capital
In 2025, Amsterdam marks a historic milestone: its 750th birthday. A city of canals and contradictions, where Golden Age architecture rubs shoulders with cutting-edge design, Amsterdam has always been a
6 August 2025
A pocket guide to Amoreiras: Lisbon’s leafy, lesser-known neighbourhood
In a city as photogenic and storied as Lisbon, it’s easy to get swept up in the tiled façades of Alfama or the café culture of Chiado. But venture just
16 July 2025
How to spend a weekend in Bordeaux
Often described as Paris’ little sister, Bordeaux is a city for people who don’t like cities. It’s noticeably peaceful, much of the city centre is pedestrianised, and it’s picture‑postcard pretty.
14 July 2025
Top things to do, see, and eat in Cefalù: plus, where to stay in Sicily
As you drive into Cefalù, the dramatic Rocca di Cefalù towers over the town’s sandy-hued buildings, setting a history-steeped scene for this once-humble fishing village. While tourism has certainly made
30 June 2025
A wellness-boosting itinerary through Portugal: from the Algarve to Alentejo
Beyond the Algarve’s beach umbrellas and Lisbon’s tiled alleys lies a version of Portugal where nature leads and wellbeing follows. These wilder corners offer stillness, slowness and a deep connection to nature
We hope you’re sitting comfortably, ideally in a swoon-worthy setting, with all the time in the world to linger over — and get lost in — these thoughtfully curated travel stories.
Editor's Picks
The ultimate Milan city guide
Its roots might run back to ancient times, but Milan embraces modernity with its Art Nouveau and contemporary architecture mixed in amongst classical buildings. In contrast to the slower pace
4 February 2025
Take the scenic route: the ultimate Scotland road trip
A seven-day cross-country itinerary through the land of lochs, castles, and tartan Scotland has all the essential ingredients for the perfect road trip – spellbinding scenery in all seasons, from
9 September 2020
The natural highs of hiking solo in Costa Rica’s cloud forest
Out of nowhere, a stark yet melodic chirp punctuates the dense moss-heavy virgin forest, halting me in my tracks with its hypnotic, unadulterated beauty. I later discover it was likely
15 December 2025
Wildly restorative: 5 nature-immersed wellbeing retreats
When life feels overstimulated and ungrounded, nature has a way of calling us back to ourselves. From jungle canopies and thermal rivers to rice paddies and seaweed-wrapped coastlines, these wellbeing
5 January 2026
Itineraries
A wellness-boosting itinerary through Portugal: from the Algarve to Alentejo
Beyond the Algarve’s beach umbrellas and Lisbon’s tiled alleys lies a version of Portugal where nature leads and wellbeing follows. These wilder corners offer stillness, slowness and something that’s increasingly
10 April 2026
Northern delights: a ‘coolcation’ itinerary across Norway & Iceland
As the train begins its slow, corkscrewing descent into Norway’s Flåm Valley, snow is softening mountain peaks into meringue-like folds. Outside the window, waterfalls freeze mid-cascade, as forests stand still
2 February 2026
The art of doing nothing, perfected in the Maldives
In a world that praises packed itineraries, early-morning flights, and the humblebrag of needing a vacation from your vacation, slow travel can feel almost counterintuitive. It’s a conscious shift away
28 October 2025
Caribbean island-hopping in the Lesser Antilles: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda
There’s no rule that says your Caribbean escape has to be a one-island affair. Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda are close enough to link in a single trip — and different
22 September 2025
Cancale to Cap Fréhel: Brittany’s Emerald Coast
Get swept away to France’s far western shores, an enchanting region where gleaming white-sand beaches give way to dramatic tides and wind-sculpted headlands. Here, the pace slows, the landscapes stretch
26 June 2025
On the road in Provence
Fragrant lavender fields, sun-dappled vineyards, rocky Mediterranean coastlines, and buttercream-coloured hilltop villages weave a tapestry of natural beauty across Provence. From idyllic markets to ancient Roman ruins, this itinerary takes
2 April 2025
Adventures in Andalusia: Moorish architecture, majestic mountains, and sun-baked beaches
A 10-day itinerary from Seville’s colourful streets to Marbella’s glitzy beaches Andalusia is one of those heart-stoppingly beautiful destinations which will have you dreaming of your return – before you’ve
10 August 2023
Italy by train: a scenic rail itinerary for slow travellers
Six iconic Italian cities in two weeks, from Milan to Naples Much like its straight-from-the-vines wine and nonna-coddled cuisine, Italy is a destination best savoured at a leisurely pace if you really want
1 April 2023
Bold, bohemian, and barefoot: a mini guide to Mexico
A 10-day itinerary from Mexico City to Tulum with La Valise Hotels A vibrant country bursting with colour, Mexico promises sensory moments at every turn – whether you’re navigating a maze of
21 January 2023
The best of Ireland & Northern Ireland: an Emerald Isle itinerary
How to see the Emerald Isle in style in under two weeks Whether you’re strolling along storied streets, roaming the rugged coastline, or cosying up in a rural pub, it’s
22 August 2022
Independent Minds
Independent Minds: Daniel Shamoon
When your calling is to create the most sought-after boutique destinations on the globe, how do you define what makes a luxury hotel truly exceptional? Off the back of his
20 April 2026
Independent Minds: the Kestelli family, KestelINN Alaçatı
In the sun-dappled village of Alaçatı, where time moves to the rhythm of cicadas and the scent of olive groves hangs in the air, KestelINN stands as a quiet testament
30 July 2025
Independent Minds: Xiaoran Zhou, Kaipuu Hotels
As the first luxury hotels in China to be certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Kaipuu on the Reef and Kaipuu Belfry are setting the eco-friendly bar in
22 May 2025
Independent Minds: Steven Riseley, Castle Elvira
Crumbling castle it might have been for over a century, but Steven Riseley and husband, Harvey B-Brown, are writing their own contemporary fairy-tale at Castle Elvira in Puglia. Following a
11 April 2025
Independent Minds: Loes Dingemans, Pillows Hotels
As discerning travellers know all too well, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to ‘understated luxury’. It’s carefully crafted, and close attention is paid to the smallest
21 January 2025
Independent Minds: Snow Yang, The Dawn Luxury Hotel
For Snow Yang and her parents, Fuyun Yang and Yanping Bai, preserving the past of their 128-year-old property near the mist-shrouded peaks of Weibao Mountain, while looking to the future,
18 December 2024
Independent Minds: Angela O’Connell, Chalets at Blackheath
Alpine adventures await in Australia’s Blue Mountains at this ruggedly refined chalet resort In the midst of the Blue Mountains’ UNESCO-listed beauty, adventurer Angela O’Connell came across the perfect setting
25 November 2024
Independent Minds: Agapi & Costantza Sbokou, Phāea Blue
Crete is a myth-steeped land of natural wonders and cultural treasures, and across the sparkling waters of Mirabello Bay from the storied island of Spinalonga, sisters Agapi and Costantza Sbokou
28 October 2024
Independent Minds: Pedro Oliveira & Alicia Valero, Hotel das Amoreiras
Lisbon’s most restful retreat has an urban heart with country house soul Husband-and-wife team Pedro and Alicia are first and foremost aesthetes, who find joy in beautiful moments and beautiful
25 October 2023
Independent Minds: Jeanette Mix, Ett Hem
Welcoming guests into the warm embrace of a well-loved home, Swedish owner Jeanette Mix has created an inimitable feeling of informal elegance at her Arts and Crafts townhouse in the
30 September 2023
Inspiration
From coast to coast: our top boutique stays for May
This month, we’re dreaming of far-flung destinations where sun, sea, and culture come together. We begin with Key West, an island off the coast of Florida at the southernmost point
27 April 2026
Independent Minds: Daniel Shamoon
When your calling is to create the most sought-after boutique destinations on the globe, how do you define what makes a luxury hotel truly exceptional? Off the back of his
20 April 2026
A wellness-boosting itinerary through Portugal: from the Algarve to Alentejo
Beyond the Algarve’s beach umbrellas and Lisbon’s tiled alleys lies a version of Portugal where nature leads and wellbeing follows. These wilder corners offer stillness, slowness and something that’s increasingly
10 April 2026
Why sailing the Nile by dahabeya is the most timeless way to experience Egypt
Aboard the beautiful Storia the Dahabeya, a four-day journey down the Nile comes to life with a thousand senses, from the snap of linen sails to the scent of sun-warmed
8 April 2026
In with the new: from vineyard retreats to island hideaways these are the hotels on our radar in April
Spring brings a renewed sense of movement and with it, travel that feels both restorative and enriching. Some stays are steeped in nature, from Finland’s forested stillness to Corsica’s sunlit
2 April 2026
A pocket guide to Roma Norte: Mexico City’s most creative district
Full of characterful, colourful neighbourhoods where culture and cuisine thrive, Mexico City is a magnet for creatives to reside and visit. Condesa remains the go-to for Art Deco architecture and
27 March 2026
From a dark sky reserve to a tropical catamaran cruise: top boutique stays for March
These hotels play with scale in different ways. Some reduce it — a monastery with 13 rooms, a handful of villas on a vast lake, fewer than 20 guests at
1 March 2026
A beloved Jackson Hole lodge reopens for ski season: plus, US mountain hotel top picks
With ski season reaching its peak, discover a revived haven of lofty luxury within the majestic mountain ranges of Teton County, western Wyoming, as a rustic mountain retreat begins a
17 February 2026
Northern delights: a ‘coolcation’ itinerary across Norway & Iceland
As the train begins its slow, corkscrewing descent into Norway’s Flåm Valley, snow is softening mountain peaks into meringue-like folds. Outside the window, waterfalls freeze mid-cascade, as forests stand still
2 February 2026
Snowy Lapland lodges to Balinese spa retreats: top boutique hotels for February
February invites a different kind of travel thinking. The urgency of new beginnings has softened, replaced by a desire to move well toward places feel tuned to their setting. This
1 February 2026
Latest stories
From coast to coast: our top boutique stays for May
This month, we’re dreaming of far-flung destinations where sun, sea, and culture come together. We begin with Key West, an island off the coast of Florida at the southernmost point of the US, known for its natural beauty, excellent diving, and distinctive Victorian-era architecture. We then move on to a
Independent Minds: Daniel Shamoon
When your calling is to create the most sought-after boutique destinations on the globe, how do you define what makes a luxury hotel truly exceptional? Off the back of his major renovation of Hermitage Bay, a nature-immersed Caribbean escape on Antigua’s golden west coast, SLH co-owner Daniel Shamoon delves into
A wellness-boosting itinerary through Portugal: from the Algarve to Alentejo
Beyond the Algarve’s beach umbrellas and Lisbon’s tiled alleys lies a version of Portugal where nature leads and wellbeing follows. These wilder corners offer stillness, slowness and something that’s increasingly sought-after by today’s travellers — a deep and meaningful connection to nature.
Why sailing the Nile by dahabeya is the most timeless way to experience Egypt
Aboard the beautiful Storia the Dahabeya, a four-day journey down the Nile comes to life with a thousand senses, from the snap of linen sails to the scent of sun-warmed papyrus drifting on the wind. We glide past palm-fringed banks and golden temples that continue to glow at dusk. Gentle
