9 AMAZING EUROPEAN GETAWAYS

Louise Goldsbury finds the hottest European escapes of 2023, from private villas to luxury hotels and amazing cruise experiences.

As the cooler weather descends on Australia, our attention has turned to Europe, which has been out of reach for many people over the past three years. Major cities are topping the charts, according to Tripadvisor’s Seasonal Travel Index, which shows Australians are looking beyond Southeast Asia for a dose of winter sun.

Instead, London has become our most researched destination in 2023, with Paris third on the wishlist and Rome seventh. Escorted small groups, luxury hotels and villas, cruises and culinary tours are all in demand, as people seek the smoothest ways to experience this everpopular continent.

Here’s our hand-picked selection of some of the best escapes in the hottest European destinations.

/ Greek villa vacations

Panoptis Escape is a stunning collection of 19 villas in Mykonos, on a hilltop overlooking the Aegean Sea. The jewel in the crown is a 21-bedroom house and 1,500 square metres of private space with 12 infinity pools, a helipad, spa suite and wellness studio, separate living rooms, an open-air bar, and indoor and outdoor kitchens with the option of a personal chef. Solo travellers, couples and families can choose one, two or three bedrooms, each with pools, deluxe amenities and personalised service from a team of chefs, butlers and concierges. Panoptis offers helicopter tours and yacht trips, such as a day tour to the neighbouring island of Delos, where a guide can lead the way to hidden beaches, ancient temples and statues around this UNESCO World Heritage site. panoptisescapemykonos.com

/ Rediscover Italy

Veer off the beaten track on a culture-rich tour led by Australian-Italian chef Valerio Fantinelli and local guide Luca Rocconi. Italy Tour Co has refreshed its short itineraries exploring the country’s art, food and history. The new tours feature experiences and locations not available to other companies, thanks to Luca’s connections. Highlights include meeting two Tuscan princesses in the gardens of their castle, which has one of Europe’s most impressive wine collections; visiting the

Ways to enjoy Europe

Clockwise, from main: On barge Spirit of Scotland with European Waterways; on a Panoptis Escape in Mykonos; on tour with Luca Rocconi of Italy Tour Co; on the Scottish Whisky Trail.

Pope’s summer-holiday hideaway; and exploring an underground medieval basilica next to the Colosseum. Guests will be taken shopping at the Campo dei Fiori market, fishing on a boat off Capri, and to a cooking class in Marlon Brando’s original Roman apartment on Tiberina Island. italytour.com.au

/ Whisky trail by barge

European Waterways operates small barges in Scotland, carrying eight to 12 people along the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness. Whisky Trail routes visit some of the oldest Scottish distilleries – such as Benromach, Tomatin, Glen Ord, Dalwhinnie and the Cairngorms National Parks Distillery – for private tastings. Guided tours reveal the unique production processes behind single malts, as well as spectacular Highland vistas. The barges can be chartered at any time of the season (March to October) and are not subject to a supplement. europeanwaterways.com

/ Lapland in luxury

Qantas Tours has curated a 12-day winter adventure to see the Northern Lights from a glass igloo in Lapland, where you can admire the spectacle from the comfort of your bed. Hold on tight on an exhilarating husky safari ride across snow-covered terrain and frozen lakes, while spotting wild moose and reindeer in the forest. Take an optional snowmobile ride along the ice-covered Bay of Bothnia to marvel at the Arctic scenery, with a quiet break by the campfire in a Lappish hut, where hot drinks and snacks are served.

This small-group trip includes flights, a visit to the Santa Claus Village, free time in the beautiful cities of Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn, hotel accommodation and breakfasts. The package is also available as a private tour with a guide and driver, for an additional cost. tours.qantas.com

/ Grandeur at its finest

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ latest luxury ship, Seven Seas Grandeur, sets sail on its maiden voyage on 18 November 2023 from Venice (Trieste) to Barcelona. Other Adriatic and Mediterranean itineraries, plus two transatlantic crossings, range from seven to 16 nights. Fares include unlimited shore excursions, gourmet cuisine, premium drinks, entertainment, internet access, valet laundry, gratuities, and transfers from hotel to ship.

The top accommodation is the Regent Suite, sprawling across 412 square metres, with its own spa, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, two bedrooms, two marble bathrooms with designer toiletries (Guerlain, L’Occitane or Acqua di Parma), living and dining areas, and two balconies with a heated pool. The suite sleeps up to six people, and guests also receive butler service, a private car and driver in every port, a complimentary cocktail party, a dinner with the ship’s senior o cer, and a personal fitness session in the gym.

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Beat the chill

This page, from top: Husky sledding in Iceland with Qantas Tours; the new pool at the Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Camo; Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park spa lobby.

/ Advanced spa retreats

The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, in London’s Knightsbridge, is the world’s first hotel outside Clinique La Prairie’s Swiss location to o er its Holistic Health longevity workshops and nutritional consultations. Trained nutritionists will provide bespoke health consultations to prescribe bioactive supplements for immunity, stress management, anti-inflammation, rejuvenation and cellular longevity. The new wellness o erings also include cryotherapy facials in partnership with Oskia and ‘remodelling’ facials from Biologique Recherche that use advanced massage techniques.

Meanwhile, Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como has reopened its doors and installed one of the world’s largest infinity floating pools, a poolside cafe and a revamped spa with a Zen garden, ice pool, saline showers, Finnish sauna, steam bath and treatments using vegan products. mandarinoriental.com

/ A&K’s green thumbs

Celebrate the stunning gardens and châteaux of France, from Paris to Versailles, with Abercrombie & Kent. Devote an entire day to the International Garden Festival at Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, privately tour a château with its owner and sample vintages at an organic winery on a journey for flower lovers that includes two nights in Paris. This beautiful tour for garden lovers

French press includes a full-day tour of the International Garden Festival at Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire; a Champagne picnic on the grounds of Versailles, an exclusive visit with the owner of Château du Rivau; a stroll through the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, once a royal medical garden and now France’s most important botanical garden; and a master class in the art of regal floral arrangements with an award-winning florist at the Château de Chenonceau. abercrombiekent.com.au

This page, from top: See the Paris Opera with Ponant; Château du Rivau in the Loire Valley with Abercrombie & Kent.

/ Opera on the sea

The Paris Opera has partnered with Ponant for a voyage from Athens to Venice via Corfu and Dubrovnik (August 1-8, 2024) aboard the 284-passenger L’Austral. Six dancers from the ballet company, including prima ballerinas Valentine Colasante and Mathieu Ganio, will host meetings with guests, two performances and screenings of behind-the-scenes documentaries. An introductory classical ballet class is also provided onboard with a teacher from the Paris Opera. au.ponant.com

/ Ship within a ship

Norwegian Viva launches in August 2023, departing from homeports such as Lisbon, Athens, Rome and Venice. The secret is to book a suite in The Haven, NCL’s most luxurious and sizeable accommodation, with spacious balconies and personal hot tubs. Private elevators whisk guests away to this exclusive enclave, where a personal concierge and 24-hour butler will cater to your every need. Blocked o from the rest of the ship, passengers can unwind in the outdoor sauna, infinity pool and the Haven Lounge & Bar. Norwegian Viva sails around the Med until November, before moving to the Caribbean. ncl.com CT