Spencer Groves, Author at A Luxury Travel Blog : A Luxury Travel Blog

5 cool boutique hotels to visit in 2018

By Spencer Groves on Oct 19, 2017 in Accommodation, Asia, Hotels, Indonesia, Middle East, Oman, Regions, Thailand, Worldwide

Instagrammable gems of the accommodation world, the best boutique hotels deliver memorable escapes with bucket-loads of originality and panache. Warm, personal service is a given – as are bespoke, well-considered interiors. Read on for our top-picks to add to your wander-lust wishlist for 2018 and beyond: Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman This clifftop retreat rests 2,000m

Dubai's best brunches

By Spencer Groves on Sep 15, 2017 in Food and Drink, Going Out, Middle East, Regions, Restaurants, Travel Miscellany, United Arab Emirates

In the UK, the term ‘brunch’ refers to a late morning meal – nothing particularly noteworthy – but in Dubai, Friday Brunch is an institution. It’s the week’s main event – the chance to kick the weekend off in style (weekends run Friday – Saturday in the UAE). It’s not breakfast, not lunch, but an

6 new hotels to look forward to in 2018

By Spencer Groves on Aug 19, 2017 in Accommodation, Asia, Bahamas, Barbados, Caribbean, Europe, Greece, Hotels, Maldives, Middle East, Regions, Resorts, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Western Europe

Interested to hear about some of the world’s best luxury hotels that are just around the corner? Here’s our guide to some of the most exciting new hotels opening across the globe in 2018. Rosewood Baha Mar, The Bahamas – Opening Spring 2018 The Rosewood Baha Mar is part of a huge redevelopment project on

Top 10 diving sites in the Caribbean

By Spencer Groves on Jul 24, 2017 in Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Mexico, North America, Regions, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

The Caribbean has long attracted holiday-makers with its white sandy beaches, swaying palms, and turquoise waters. And whilst the ocean vistas create postcard-perfect scenes from the shore, under the surface it’s home to a dazzling array of fish and coral, making it a paradise for scuba divers. Here’s our list of the top 10 undersea

The world's best jungle resorts

By Spencer Groves on Jun 17, 2017 in Accommodation, Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Regions, Resorts, Thailand, Worldwide

Jungles and rainforests provide some of the most awe-inspiring scenery and best wildlife experiences on the planet. And forget sticky, mosquito-ridden lodgings – these days there’s no need to forgo a few luxuries during your travels. We’ve pulled together a list of our favourite jungle retreats, all of which offer uncompromising eco adventure alongside innovative

10 must-visit celebrity chef restaurants in hotels around the world

By Spencer Groves on May 18, 2017 in Accommodation, Celebrities, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hotels, Mexico, Middle East, Nevada, North America, Regions, Restaurants, Travel Miscellany, United Arab Emirates, USA, Worldwide

You’ve watched them on TV, bought their cookery books, and seen gushing articles referencing Michelin stars… and now they’re drawing diners in their droves to hotels around the world. Read on for our top picks of the best famous-name hotel restaurants. Gary Rhodes’ Rhodes Twenty10 at Le Royal Méridien, Dubai Who: Gary Rhodes OBE is one

10 family-friendly resorts with top kids' clubs

By Spencer Groves on Apr 25, 2017 in Accommodation, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Barbados, Caribbean, Europe, Family Travel, Greece, Hotels, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Middle East, North America, Regions, Resorts, Speciality Travel, United Arab Emirates, Western Europe

As any parent knows, you’re only as happy as your least happiest child – and keeping children happy, especially away from home, can be hard work. Finding a holiday resort that makes this as easy as possible, with plenty of tyke-pleasing facilities, is the first step towards a harmonious family holiday. The option of a

Top 5 luxury desert escapes

By Spencer Groves on Mar 14, 2017 in Accommodation, Adventure Travel, Hotels, Middle East, Oman, Regions, Resorts, Speciality Travel, United Arab Emirates

A stay in the desert is the closest most of us will get to holidaying on another planet. These resorts perfectly embody the trend for pared-back luxury, shifting the focus from overblown opulence to one of pampering and soul-soothing; favouring enriching experiences over materialism. Their remote locations, coupled with other-worldly vistas and five-star comforts make

The best resorts in the Maldives for diving and snorkelling

By Spencer Groves on Feb 16, 2017 in Adventure Travel, Asia, Leisure Travel, Maldives, Regions, Speciality Travel

If you ask anyone who’s planning a trip to The Maldives why they’ve chosen to visit that particular part of the world, one of the most common reasons is for the unbeatable snorkelling and diving experiences. The Maldives are renowned for excellent visibility, crystal-clear waters, and pleasant, warm temperatures – making underwater sightseeing top of

14 of the world's most romantic retreats

By Spencer Groves on Jan 13, 2017 in Accommodation, Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Barbados, Caribbean, Hotels, Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Middle East, Oman, Regions, Resorts, Seychelles, Thailand, United Arab Emirates

With February 14th on the horizon, take five minutes to fantasise about these swoon-worthy sanctuaries: our handpicked selection of the most romantic retreats in the world… Maldives – Jumeirah Dhevanafushi The Maldives – one of the most exclusive destinations on the planet – has to be the top choice for a once-in-a-lifetime escape. Jumeirah Dhevanafushi

The 5 best places to spend Christmas abroad

By Spencer Groves on Dec 19, 2016 in Asia, Barbados, Caribbean, Maldives, Middle East, Regions, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates

Our favourite destinations for Christmas getaways involve lots of sunshine and warm weather. It’s hard to beat the idea of escaping the short wintery days, swapping your Christmas jumper and grey skies for a swimsuit and two weeks of beautiful sunshine. Here are some of the best places to visit at Christmas time: Barbados Being

Inside Dubai's most highly anticipated new hotel: Jumeirah Al Naseem

By Spencer Groves on Nov 15, 2016 in Accommodation, Hotels, Middle East, Regions, United Arab Emirates

Dubai’s most highly anticipated new hotel development is set to open its doors in a couple of weeks time. Located in the heart of the palatial Madinat Jumeirah complex, Jumeirah Al Naseem is the fourth hotel to be built here – occupying the last prized beachfront plot. We last visited the hotel during construction in

4 new hotels in Oman you'll want to visit in 2017

By Spencer Groves on Oct 19, 2016 in Accommodation, Hotels, Middle East, Oman, Regions

Expect to be hearing a lot more about Oman in 2017. With new flight routes from Heathrow and Manchester and the construction of several stylish new hotels, Oman’s rugged landscapes, sandy beaches, and diver-drawing seas are becoming even more appealing (and easier to get to) than ever before. From luxurious mountain retreats to opulent developments

Top 8 luxury hotels in the Caribbean

By Spencer Groves on Sep 15, 2016 in Accommodation, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Caribbean, Hotels, Regions, Resorts, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Whether you’re looking for a secluded bolthole, crowd-free private island, iconic resorts with abundant facilities, a hip retreat or historic, understated elegance, the Caribbean is capable of delivering all types of luxury hotel. We’ve handpicked some of our very favourite places to stay on these colourful isles; read on to discover the reasons why we

6 of the world's best bucket-list breaks

By Spencer Groves on Aug 17, 2016 in Africa, Asia, Florida, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Middle East, North America, Oman, Regions, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, USA

When choosing a holiday, do you ever struggle to decide whether to embark on an action-packed adventure, or default to a lazy beach-based getaway? Go for a snappy city break, or relaxed romantic retreat? Or how about – both? Combine two, three or even four destinations for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday – there’s nothing quite like

Which Maldives island is right for you?

By Spencer Groves on Jul 15, 2016 in Accommodation, Asia, Maldives, Regions, Resorts

We’ve just got back from a whistle-stop tour of the Maldives, visiting no less than 9 different island resorts. When you choose a holiday in the Maldives, you’re likely to be going for the talcum white sands and crystal clear waters found almost nowhere else in the world. Whilst there’s no denying that all resorts

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