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ASK THE CONCIERGE Take a punt on Cambridge

Zalán Schuster, Head Concierge, University Arms, Cambridge

“With buildings that have endured the test of time for nearly

a thousand years, Cambridge is remarkable. Beautiful in any season, there is so much to see here. To find your bearings, climb the 123 steps of the tower at Great St. Mary’s, which offers panoramic views of the city.

Architecturally, St. John’s could be described as the most beautiful of the colleges. Amongst its alumni are the playwright Ben Jonson and the poet William Wordsworth. It is also worth having a look at The Bridge of Sighs – according to legend, undergraduates would sigh as they crossed the bridge if their exams had not gone well. Another must see is the Wren Library, which contains Sir Isaac Newton’s notes and the original Winnie-the-Pooh manuscript.

Stop for a gourmet sandwich at Bread & Meat. Afterwards, pop into Jack’s Gelato for an ice cream, or Fitzbillies for one of their famous Chelsea Buns. Visiting the Botanic Garden is highly recommended: the 40-acre-garden with its 8,000+ species of plants is the perfect spot to find some head space.

Round your day of sightseeing off with a drink at The Eagle, the most famous and historic pub in Cambridge. There are so many options where dinner is concerned, from excellent steaks at The Chophouse to vegan favourites at The Old Bicycle Shop. Alternatively, if you’re after fine dining, you can’t beat Midsummer House.”

universityarms.com

WINTER SUN Paradise found

An archipelago of 155 islands off the

coast of East Africa, with its miles of spellbinding white sand beaches lapped by the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is about as close to paradise as its possible to get. And with no quarantine requirements on arrival, travel deprived as we are, there’s nowhere we’d rather be jetting off to.

Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury accommodation here, though top of our wish list is the brand-new Mango House, by LXR Hotels & Resorts. Nestled in the fragrant fruit trees along the shores of Anse Aux Poules Bleues bay on Mahé, the largest of the islands, it is an intimate and exclusive oasis.

Originally built as a family dwelling by celebrated Italian photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri, the hotel offers 41 impeccably designed guest rooms, suites, and villas, all with unobstructed sea views. Those in search of the ultimate family getaway can book an exclusive cluster of 13 guest rooms. Known as Cliff House, this is the largest villa in the Seychelles and comes complete with its own private, elevated pool.

The luxurious facilities encompass two glorious pools, three exclusive restaurants serving fresh local cuisine, a cocktail bar and poolside bar, a secluded spa offering treatments incorporating locally made products, a well-equipped fitness suite and a kids club.

Staying true to the LXR brand, every element of Mango House is connected to its surroundings with a focus on sustainability and supporting local businesses where possible. Feisal Jaffer, Global Head, LXR Hotels & Resorts says: “Mango House has an abundance of captivating stories to be told and we cannot wait to share them with our guests. Developed in harmony with its surroundings, Mango House mirrors the traditions of southern Mahé folklore, with the fascinating Seychellois culture woven into every aspect of the personalised guest experience.”

For more information, see lxrhotels.com/mango-house-seychelles For help planning your trip to the Seychelles, visit seychelles.travel

WELLBEING BREAK Soul Survival

We don’t need to tell you that travel is good for the soul, and a new staycation package from one of London’s top boutique hotels has been designed to harness that power – even when we aren’t able to truly get away. With the importance of mental and physical health at an all-time high, The Mandrake have introduced their ‘Soul Revival Package’.

Every aspect of the luxury Fitzrovia hotel has been curated and designed to offer an immersive experience, from the towering living walls of jasmine and passionflower, to the cocoon like bedrooms and suites and the ground-breaking ethnobotanical cocktails served in the bar. Following the successful introduction of a spiritual wellness concierge last year – the world’s first – the hotel has designed a new overnight package to guide guests into the post pandemic world with an assortment of traditional and ancient wellness practises: from in-room bespoke energy healings to sound baths. All sessions are hosted by the best practitioners in their fields, such as Shaman Eddy Elsey and sound healer Maria Lodetoft. The package also includes an overnight stay in an evergreen terrace room and a complimentary dinner for two on a private balcony. The ultimate escape: you’ll return from your night away feeling like you’ve spent a month away.

review GROWN UP GLAMOUR

If the weather is to keep you prisoner, where better than five-star hotel, Le Hotel Majestic Barrière on the Croisette, Cannes

WORDS by CASEY JONES

Cannes is not usually shrouded in mist nor virtually unreachable on roads turned to rivers. Ordinarily the French Riviera is irresistibly filmic, bathed in glorious sunshine, the shushing of cicadas soothingly audible above the gentle lapping of the Med… But visiting the Le Hotel Majestic Barrière during dramatic autumn storms gave me the opportunity to fully luxuriate in the old school comfort and style of a Riviera icon where film festival stars are wont to stay.

My room has an undisturbed view over a slate grey sea. Palm trees wave bravely in the squall. But I can easily imagine how grateful I would be for the awning that keeps the worst of the rain off the sun loungers were the sun to require me to lounge on a balcony that is really too grand to be a mere balcony but is more of a private terrace. In a separate wing, the hotel’s most sumptuous suites all face directly onto the famous red-carpeted steps of the Palais des Festivals up which have glided stars from Sophia Loren to Angelina Jolie – in fact every imaginable A-lister since the Cannes Film Festival began in 1946. Each impressive suite is decorated in a distinct style: the fashionably chic Dior; the Riviera, whose nautical theme recalls the spirit of a luxury liner; a set of rooms celebrating cinematic style; and the classy classic, Morgan. The penthouse has its own private rooftop pool with sea view. Lesser folk make do with the hotel’s (still rather fabulous) heated seaside pool or its private beach.

But as much as the Majestic revels in its very grown up glamour, the hotel is as welcoming to families and is justly proud of its special film-making club for the kids, part of the Le Studio by Petit VIP concept, which hosts family fun workshops and 5-star activities for children. The charm of a traditional hotel is, at least partly, in the warmth of the welcome and the Majestic is keen to make sure its guests are thoroughly at home. My friend Claudia remembers staying here as a child with her family in the 1970s. She licks her lips recalling the steak tartare some thirty-odd years later, so my expectations are high – and I am not disappointed.

When in France… Fois gras is a guilty pleasure but at Fouquet’s – the Majestic’s expansive bar and Parisian-style luxury brasserie – the pleasure easily outweighs the guilt. Classic French dishes such as duck fillet and pepper beef sit alongside fish and chips and burgers. We try the squid and the pan-fried scallops on a smooth buttery artichoke puree. The Mediterranean influence is clear from the number of fish dishes on the menu. It takes us an age to choose the Hautes Côtes de Nuit Domaine Chambris Bourgogne but we are delighted with a white that can sit happily with our seafood and hold its own against the fois gras.

I indulge in breakfast in my room on day one and I feel a little bit of a princess as I nibble tiny pastries and sip café au lait, but I am glad to have made it to the breakfast buffet the following morning where I chip chunks off a laptop-sized honeycomb to sweeten my pancakes and consider having a glass of Champagne to get the day started.

On Saturday night we eat at La Terrasse du Gray, the gourmet restaurant at the Majestic’s sister hotel just around the corner, Le Gray D’Albion. Here the menu relies on seasonal produce and experiments with more international flavours. Risottos and ravioli remind us that we are not all that far away from Italy, but the latter comes gyoza “dumpling-style” stuffed with prawns, while the sea bream carpaccio is tangy with a mango and coriander salsa. I plump for the burrata and grilled zucchini salad to start. (It’s not been that long since lunch where I’m working my way through the chef’s daily specials at Fouquet’s.) Mains include a wok section with a tempting-sounding Peking duck glazed with honey from the restaurant’s own hives while the rest of the menu feels familiarly Mediterranean with a twist: grilled lamb chops and caponata, octopus with preserved lemon, pan-fried beef brightened up with a chimichurri condiment.

Dating from 1926, the Majestic has undergone major renovations in the last two decades, evolving to incorporate the most modern ideals of luxury while keeping true to its roots. The

Top: the hotel enjoys its own private beach, La Plage Le Majestic Above: Suite Escale offers exceptional views of the bay and the Palais des Festivals

vast entrance hall is decorated in Venetian-style sumptuousness, all gold and glittering lights. I nestle happily with my laptop in the spacious lounge and can see why the hotel is popular with business travellers and for conferences. Sparkling chandeliers, glass, mirrors, leather, and gilt all go a long way to take the edge off a Powerpoint presentation. The restoration of this part of the hotel, unveiled during the 2016 film festival, was inspired by Art Deco designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, at work in the 1920s and 30s. Amid the dreamy ivory and cream interior – at once grand and yet comfy – I expect Hercule Poirot to walk in at any moment.

When the sun breaks through, I venture out for a turn around the harbour to admire the yachts in temporary residence. I stroll past the luxury outlets that line the street outside the hotel, Cannes’ famous Boulevard de la Croisette: Prada, Gucci, Dior. Despite the hype, the old town retains the charm of the fishing village it once was. A sudden downpour, though, and it’s not so much Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief as Mr Bean’s Holiday, but there is sanctuary in the Diane Barrière spa, where I relax on a heated bed in a lilac-lit room, massaged with scented oils. Partnering with skincare experts Biologique Recherche, the wellness centre has a range of beauty treatments fit for any aspiring starlet, while the Caribbean-infused Ligne St Barth line promotes the three Rs: relaxation, restoration, rejuvenation.

As I am packing to leave, a call comes from the concierge to tell me that the roads are closing between Cannes and Nice airport. By the time I make it to the front desk, taxis are no longer picking up. Enter Joel, bellboy extraordinaire, tasked with getting me to the airport come hell or high water. At last I feel I am starring in my own movie as we dash up the motorway, wiggle along mountain lanes, edge through flooded roads and make it, finally, to the airport. If only Cary Grant had been waiting there for me…

Above: the grand hotel lives up to its name –an icon of elegance and luxury Left: the beautiful and spacious living area of Suite Horizon