FEATURE STORY

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, CANOUAN

Nestled along an idyllic, white-powder stretch of Godahl Beach, Mandarin Oriental, Canouan offers the ultimate in barefoot luxury. Located in the heart of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this elegant property is comprised of luxurious colonial-style suites and villas — including the pièce de résistance, a four-bedroom, hilltop villa — a nearly 5,900-foot illuminated runway for private planes, and five square miles of lush, tropical terrain that includes a championship, 18-hole, Fazio-designed golf course, superyacht marina, picturesque white-sand beaches and the largest natural coral reef in the Caribbean. You can do as much or as little as you like here, and it’s all at your beck and call: five dining options, a beach-side infinity pool, three night-lit tennis courts, a fully equipped fitness center, and even a kids club. For those who really want to relax, the spa is where it’s at, with three-hour treatments available in an ultra-private, overwater spa bungalow that also include a boat transfer and treats. Where do we sign up? Carenage Bay, Canouan Island VC0450, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

IBIZA GRAN HOTEL

It’s a common misconception that Ibiza is all party, all the time. While that’s true to some extent, it’s also a great place to relax, regroup, wine, and dine. At Ibiza Gran Hotel, steps away from the Bay of Ibiza across from Dalt Vila (the city’s old town) in Talamanca., you can do both. Yes, it’s steps away from Pacha, the ultimate superclub, but it’s also an oasis of art, fine dining, and pampering. To start, stay in the Gran Suite Isla Blanca, which looms over the bay in its majestic opulence thanks to a private terrace, sundeck, heated hydro-massage swimming pool, steam shower, private kitchen, cocktail bar, and wine cellar, with butler service, private chefs, personal trainers, and Bentley airport transfers on request. It’s home to two exceptional restaurants, Downtown Ibiza by Giuseppe Cipriani, defined by 1960s décor, delectable Italian fare, and one heck of an aperitif hour; and the fusion of Mediterranean meets Kaiseki cuisine at the newly minted, Michelin-starred La Gaia by Óscar Molina, and, for the first time ever, a one-year residency from global brand, Zuma, as well as ASAL from chef Mario Sandoval. The new restaurants will be accompanied by the new late-night venue Club Chinois, courtesy of the team at the world-famous Mayfair London eatery, Park Chinois. Add in the stylings of Open Spa, a den of relaxation with hydromassage pools (jets, cascades, and swan-neck fountains), a plunge pool, Turkish bath, a Finnish sauna, aroma and contrast showers, saline inhalation bath and a relaxation zone with heated beds, and we’d say you’re more than ready for Pacha, Amnesia, Privilege, and so much more. Passeig Joan Carles I, 17, 07800 Eivissa, Illes Balears, Spain

PHOTO COURTESY OF MANDARIN ORIENTAL, CANOUAN PHOTO COURTESY OF MANDARIN ORIENTAL, CANOUAN PHOTO COURTESY OF ROUND HILL HOTEL & VILLAS

PHOTO COURTESY OF IBIZA GRAN HOTEL PHOTO COURTESY OF IBIZA GRAN HOTEL

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TK PHOTOS COURTESY OF TK PHOTO COURTESY OF HOTEL DE MAR GRAN MELIÁ

PHOTO COURTESY OF TK

ROUND HILL HOTEL & VILLAS

Round Hill is often named one of the best hotels in the world for a reason: It manages to embrace the true, “don’t worry about a thing” Montego Bay vibe in the most decadent of ways. This 100-acre waterfront resort is full of it all: luxurious, individually designed villas and boutique oceanfront rooms — all designed by Ralph Lauren — award-winning seaside dining, and an exquisite spa that lies nestled in a lush tropical hillside along a private bay of turquoise Caribbean waters. But first, the villas: As designed by the Polo Pony and regarded as some of the finest in Jamaica, each includes a private pool surrounded by lush, secluded tropical landscaping;made-to-order breakfasts, specially prepared in the villa each morning;and a bespoke pillow menu, among other offerings. Its Spa at Round Hill follows suit with the upscale ethos, with wellness offerings, including transformative yoga in an open-air pavilion with sweeping views of the sea, an outdoor Vichy shower under a canopy of tropical foliage, and an extensive treatment menu focused on natural and indigenous influences, all set in an 18th-century plantation house by the sea. There’s a plethora of dining options as well, the highlight of which is modern Caribbean-focused fare courtesy of James Beard award-winning chef Martin Maginley, and all the activities you could possibly imagine, including river rafting, rum tasting, and waterfall hikes. Don’t miss nearby attractions such as Glistening Waters, home to the largest and most brilliant bioluminescence lagoon in the world. John Pringle Drive, Montego Bay, Jamaica

HOTEL DE MAR GRAN MELIÁ

If sultry sea breezes, the magic of the Mediterranean, and adults-only bliss/debauchery is your personal best, then Mallorca’s Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá should be at the top of your summertime bucket list. Every aspect of your stay is tailor-made for a complication-free, luxury vacation: Stay in the elegantly designed Royal Suite RedLevel — for Melia’s VIP guests — 1,100 square feet of indulgence with a whirlpool tub and sea views, two furnished private balconies, a rain shower, a lounge with its own fully equipped butler’s pantry, and a fully stocked mini-bar with your favorite must-have libations. Here, there are three restaurants: Perseo, which exudes 1950s Riviera-style glamour offering outdoor dining surrounded by pine trees with sea views;Arrels Restaurant By Marga Coll, which offers incredible 5-course gastronomic breakfasts and 7-course evening tasting menus; and Bardot, a glorious spot named in homage to French icon Brigitte Bardot; two outdoor pools, the Sky Pool and the main pool overlooking the sea at Bardot, the hotel Pool Club, with an exclusive area with Bali beds and a sundeck by the sea;and the beautiful SPA by Clarins with treatments aplenty as well as its own water ritual thermal circuit. And finally, the team here creates experiences. Whether that’s a special journey to the Miró Mallorca Fundació, where Catalan artist Joan Miró created his best works, capped by a five-stage breakfast made by chef Marga Coll in a private, reserved part of the museum; a private boat and airplane adventure with a guided visit to local Ferrer and Ribas winery; olive oil tasting by the Tramuntana; or a luxury shopping excursion in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce to Palma’s most exclusive shopping district (with stops at Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, and Escada), followed by lunch, dinner, and desserts, everything you’ve dreamed about in an upscale summer vacation can truly be yours. Paseo de las Illetas, 7 07184 Majorca - Illetas

MAYBOURNE RIVIERA

Built on a rocky peninsula high above the picturesque French town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, known for its 10th-century medieval castle and ancient Vallonnet caves, whose rich legacy of patrons includes the likes of Coco Chanel, Dali, Picasso, and Jean Cocteau, rests The Maybourne Riviera, the new, strikingly modernist hotel from the upscale Maybourne Hotel Group, operators of Claridge’s, The Connaught, and The Berkeley in London, and The Maybourne Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. With dramatic panoramic views of the coastline that take in Cap-Martin and Italy to the west and Monte Carlo to the east, it’s a prime location for this Jean-Michel Wilmotte-designed, 69-room resort (all of which have spectacular views of the sea), set on restored ancient gardens with walled-in walkways, citrus orchards, and a seasonal herb garden. It’s a collaborative project in many ways: The Maybourne has partnered with artists, designers, and architects, including Andre Fu, Bryan O’Sullivan, Marcelo Joulia, Pierre Yovanovitch, and Rigby & Rigby to create singular spaces while also working with local artisans to create bespoke art, glassware, ceramics, and furnishings. Similarly, the culinary offerings are, one might say, a perfect pairing, helmed by two of the world’s best chefs: Ceto and the Riviera Restaurant, courtesy of Mauro Colagreco of three-Michelin star Mirazur, in nearby Menton, and past holder of the No. 1 position in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, as well as Haute Living culinary ambassador Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the man behind the Pool Bar & Terrace and the soon-to-be-opened Jean-Georges at The Maybourne Riviera. Japanese chef Hiro Sato is also set to bring his worldclass sushi to the property soon, while executive pastry chef Benoit Dutreige is responsible for the sweet treats offered at the very British afternoon tea. Guests of the hotel have exclusive access to the chic Maybourne Riviera Beach Club nearby and will be transported there from the hotel (or to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Monte Carlo) by open-top bespoke biminis, decorated in the hotel’s signature lemon and white stripes, which are just as lovely as the property’s mosaic pavements, André Fu-designed spa, and outdoor infinity pool built into the rock with signature orange sunbeds overlooking the ever-changing panorama of distant sailboats. 1551 Rte de la Turbie, 06190 Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAYBOURNE RIVIERA PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAYBOURNE RIVIERA PHOTO COURTESY OF HÔTEL MARTINEZ

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAZZARO SEA PALACE AND ATLANTIS BAY There are few places more glamorous to enjoy some fun in the sun than the historic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes, home of the storied Cannes Film Festival. This centurial institution, which faces the Mediterranean Sea and the Lérins Islands, underwent a major facelift in 2018 but has retained its Roaring Twenties vibe in a modern, utterly compelling way that truly embraces the hedonistic French Riviera lifestyle. Architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, who initially sketched plans for the hotel’s signature La Palme d’Or restaurant in 1985, was enlisted to re-create its well-recognized Art Deco style throughout, including the white marble, light-filled lobby, glass-enclosed elevator with views to the sea and beyond, and the refreshed guest rooms highlighted in yachting style with white lacquer furniture and splashes of sky blue or pale yellow throughout, nods to the land of sea and sun. The most recent updates to the property are its penthouse apartments, which have been named in honor of legendary French actress Isabelle Huppert and Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Frémaux. The former is decorated in light shades of white and gold in a wide variety of textures, from leather to silk, with custom rugs dotting the simple, Cocteau-inspired décor, while the latter was designed as a masculine boudoir with bold furnishings in cooler tones, for a more refined, subdued style. From the bathroom resembling a celebrity dressing room to the black-and-white tiling recalling reel-to-reel film, it is truly an ode to the festival of yesteryear. Each penthouse has its signature scent as well, courtesy of Mane perfumer Julie Massé; Huppert’s with notes of tuberose from Grasse, Frémaux’s capturing his preferences in notes of cypress, cedar, and fig leaf. Michelin two-star chef Christian Sinicropi of the hotel’s La Palme d’Or restaurant is developing a special menu to be served in these apartments — akin to the special menu he prepares for the festival’s jury — for a complete experience that captures all the cinematic magic of Cannes. Don’t miss the extensive, globalinspired libations at Bar Martinez, where a truck offering 4,356 possible experiences of gin are available, as well as the refreshed beach club La Plage, with its ambiance of uncluttered luxury, a blend of Art Deco, Miami Beach, the yachting world, and the French Riviera. Newly revealed for summer is L’Oasis du Martinez, a lush, natural haven of peace and rejuvenation away from the hustle and bustle of Cannes with plants, a private swimming pool, its Spa by Carita, and a Technogym-equipped fitness area. 73 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France

MAZZARÒ SEA PALACE AND ATLANTIS BAY

If there’s an actual heaven on earth, it looks a lot like Taormina, a stunning hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily known for its proximity to Mount Etna, an active volcano, sandy beaches leading out to the crystal blue sea, winding cobblestone streets, and Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-Roman theater that still runs to this day. Here, VRetreats owns and operates two five-star properties, both with an oceanic feel, though in distinctly different locations. The 76-room Mazzarò Sea Palace is located on one of the most storied coastlines in the Mediterranean, with its own private beach, exclusive to hotel guests, state-of-the-art wellness center, an elevated Sicilian eatery in Il Gattopardo, and luxe pool suites with heated plunge pools. Elegantly minimalist sister resort Atlantis Bay, meanwhile, is situated on Baia delle Sirene, or Mermaids Bay, set amongst the romantic alleyways of Taormina. Speaking of romance, that’s found in spades here, from candlelit dinners at its Iccocampo restaurant to craft cocktails and bottles of Sicilian vino at the Dioniso bar, an homage to — what else — Dionysus, the god of wine. The activities are pretty stellar at Atlantis as well, and include The Godfather tour — where guests ride around in a vintage Fiat 500 and relive scenes from Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic 1972 film, which was shot locally; hiking excursions up Mount Etna and body rafting to the Alcantara Gorge; and explorations of the Isola Bella, Grotta Azzurra, Naxos Gardens, and Castle of Sant’Alessio, all aboard an elegant yacht. See? Heaven on earth. Via Nazionale, 147, 98030 and Via Nazionale, 161, 98030, Taormina ME, Italy

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FASHION & CREATIVE DIRECTOR ADRIENNE FAUROTE PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY WESTBROOK PROP STYLIST CHRISTINE MOTTAU AT JUDY CASEY INC.

THROUGH ROSECOLORED GLASSES

This summer season, Louis Vuitton’s most recognizable accessories are making a splash, from the explosion of vibrant pinks in the Capucines, Petite Malle, and Dauphine handbags to the electric yellow, monogram-embossed Coussin handbag. Whether you’re making an entrance with the Twist bag’s bold gradient strap or with one of the exotic Capucines, Louis Vuitton’s signature styles have been reimagined through the rose-colored glasses of summer.