Explore some of the world’s most irresistible locations. Make connections, uncover the unusual and stay a while.
Enjoy a relaxing getaway in your own villa in Puglia
Discover Italy’s sunlit south with a carefully selected collection of private villas and traditional trulli (traditional dry-stone hut with a conical roof) in Puglia, each with its own pool and unique design. Set among olive groves, countryside and coast, these homes are designed for travellers who value space, comfort and privacy and who appreciate the slower rhythm of southern Italian life.
Every stay is supported by a dedicated Guest Angel – a local person who knows the villa and the area well and is your point of reference from the moment your booking is confirmed. They share thoughtful suggestions and quietly take care of details, whether that means arranging a private cook, a transfer from the airport, a boat trip along the coast or simply recommending a restaurant locals love. The result is a stay that feels easy and personalised, and made all the better with warm hospitality and genuine local connection.
Exclusive for Independent readers: enjoy a complimentary pre-booking consultation at Pugliaparadise.com
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Relax and revive on the Ionian Coast
In one of Corfu’s most captivating coastal spots, the family-run San Antonio Corfu Resort offers a calming, adults-only escape with spectacular sea views. Set into the hillside with terraces that look out over horseshoe-shaped Kalami Bay, spend your days relaxing beside two outdoor pools or wander down to the quiet pebble beach below.
The property has recently been revamped by its co-owner, an architect whose eye for detail and commitment to sustainability brings a fresh, contemporary character while honouring the family’s longstanding approach to warm service. That spirit is embodied by Callao On The Coast, the resort’s beachside dining spot where Mediterranean dishes, inventive cocktails and live music make for easygoing and sociable afternoons.
Book your stay at Sanantoniocorfuresort.com
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Admire valley views at a timeless Douro Valley wine estate
Among the terraced vineyards of Portugal’s Douro Valley, Quinta da Côrte is a meticulously restored 19th-century wine estate that’s ideal for a sophisticated and intimate getaway. The estate is a charming mix of heritage architecture and understated contemporary design. With just eight rooms, personalised hospitality is at the heart of every stay.
Guests can enjoy private wine tastings against the backdrop of the Douro River and valley views, take a vineyard tour and indulge in seasonal gastronomy that celebrates the unique flavours of the region. For groups of friends or couples seeking something different, this is the perfect place to stay for enjoying an authentic trip through the Douro Valley.
Book stays and wine experiences at Quintadacorte.com
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Indulge in award-winning dining at a spa break in Staffordshire
Set among the rolling hills of Staffordshire, Hoar Cross Hall is one of Europe’s largest spa hotels. The award-winning retreat is home to an open-air Spa Terrace with heated pools, cabanas and firepits that overlook the surrounding countryside. Inside, more facilities await at The Sanctum, featuring a saltwater vitality pool, the Aqua Massage & Detox Centre and Nordic heat and ice experiences for a complete thermal journey under one roof.
The hotel’s two AA Rosette-awarded Ballroom restaurant has a delectable menu that changes with the seasons, while elegant bedrooms will tempt guests to extend their stay. Whether visiting for an evening twilight session, a full spa day or an overnight break, the focus here is on unhurried wellbeing in idyllic English countryside surroundings.
Plan your Staffordshire Spa break at Baronseden.com
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Discover the wonders of Japan on an intimate group tour
Wild Frontiers curates small-group and tailor-made tours in some of the world’s most culturally rich locations. Its Japan programme pairs deep local insight with gently paced exploration. Trips are created around the wishes of each group of travellers, whether that means cycling as a family through rural landscapes, tracing centuries of history in Kyoto’s temple districts or unwinding in traditional ryokan with onsen bathing and seasonal kaiseki dining.
Every itinerary is crafted by specialist consultants, then delivered by trusted local guides. The small-group tours are limited to just 12 guests, allowing for deeper cultural encounters and connections made beyond visiting the standard tourist sights.
Learn more about the tours at Wildfrontierstravel.com
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Escape to Crete for a luxurious stay
In a prime position along a Blue Flag stretch of the Rethymno coast, Grecotel LUX®ME White offers a polished seaside break on the inviting island of Crete. Brilliant, whitewashed buildings are dotted across layered terraces to create a calm, light-filled retreat that overlooks the glimmering sea. Recently refreshed rooms and villas pair upgraded comforts with expansive views.
The LUX®ME all-inclusive concept spans seven a la carte restaurants, offering everything from Mediterranean and Italian food to Asian dishes served above the water, alongside beachside grills and private dining. Everything you could wish for awaits here, with watersports, the laidback Hippie Spa, family-friendly facilities and adult-only options, making Grecotel LUX®ME White the ideal destination for a truly relaxing getaway.
Find out more at Luxmewhite.com
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Get swept away on a luxury escape inspired by Ancient Olympia
Grecotel La Riviera in Greece’s West Peloponnese channels a grander, more expansive vision of a Greek escape. Overlooking the Ionian Sea and inspired by Ancient Olympia, the resort weaves classical references into a thoroughly modern beachfront setting. From 2026, it joins the Grecotel LUX®ME Edition portfolio, elevating its all-inclusive offering with Mediterranean-style guest rooms that open onto generous terraces that deliver expansive sea views along with an array of more than 20 restaurants and bars.
Families gravitate towards the Olympia Aqua Park, the largest in a Greek resort, where mythology-themed slides and water attractions bring high-energy contrast to the calm shores. For a gentler experience, the large Elixir Spa provides a sea-facing, serene space to rest and reset.
Book your stay at Rivieraolympia.com
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Find your perfect modern resort in Antalya
In May 2026, Trendy Perge is set to open a contemporary take on ultra-all-inclusive stays in the Kundu-Lara region of Antalya, Türkiye. The resort features spacious family suites and swim-up rooms and is defined by a lifestyle concept that brings together modern resort luxury, culinary variety and memorable holiday moments. A spa with hammam and sauna, three a la carte restaurants and evening live performances shape a well-rounded stay.
The wider Trendy portfolio stretches along the coast. Trendy Lara, on Lara beach, just a 15-minute drive from the airport, offers villas, aquapark slides, a private beach and seven restaurants. Located near Side and Manavgat, Trendy Aspendos Beach and Trendy Verbena Beach suit families, while Trendy Palm Beach and Trendy Side Beach provide a calmer, adults-only retreat.
Find which suits you best at Trendy.com.tr
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Experience the Turkish Mediterranean at three different resorts
On Türkiye’s sun-soaked southern coast, Ali Bey Hotels & Resorts offers three distinct ways to experience the Mediterranean, each infused with the charm of Turkish-inspired architecture, Istanbul mansion style and warm hospitality. All feature an ultra-all-inclusive concept and inviting, palm-fringed pools. Ali Bey Resort Sorgun is home to one of the most unique, golden sand beaches in the Antalya region, with architecture and feels like a private Mediterranean estate and extraordinary gardens with shaded pathways, terraces and quiet courtyards.
Down the coast, Ali Bey Club Manavgat and Ali Bey Park Manavgat are made for higher-energy family fun. A 25,000sq metre aquapark with 25 slides, activity pools and a pirate ship make for a lively stay. It’s not just for big kids, though – with nearly 100 tennis courts plus padel and pickleball, the resort is a major destination for sporty visitors. Dining ranges from Anatolian classics to teppanyaki theatre.
Find your perfect stay at Alibey.com
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Discover the delights of Dubrovnik with a historic hotel stay
Located right at the medieval gateway of Dubrovnik’s Unesco-listed Old Town, Hotel Imperial Dubrovnik is a historic, five-star Croatian hotel that sets the scene for your elegant escape on the Adriatic coast. The grand, late-19th-century architecture is complemented by a sophisticated modern interior design, with chic and calming rooms made for unwinding in.
Wellness enthusiasts will enjoy sessions in the fitness centre and indoor pool followed by a choice of massages and treatments. Then, as the sun dips toward the horizon, dine on local cuisine at the a la carte Imperial Terrace restaurant, or enjoy signature cocktails and afternoon tea at The Imperial Bar & Lounge overlooking Fort Lovrjenac. It’s also one of the few pet-friendly hotels in the city, and a dedicated concierge service is available to assist with personalised recommendations, excursions and tailored itineraries.
Book your stay at Dubrovnik.hilton.com
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Golf, swim and dine at an English country club and resort
Craving the charm of a UK getaway that boasts the luxury of a modern spa? Look no further than Foxhills Club and Resort, a grand country estate with three golf courses in Surrey set on 400 acres of grounds. Spend days moving between teeing off on championship fairways, relaxing afternoons spent in the spa, dipping into any of the five pools and trying out some of the 200 fitness and activity classes.
There’s no chance of going hungry, either, thanks to the hotel’s two restaurants – Nineteen, a casual brasserie with golf-course views, and Flo’s, an Australian-influenced deli-style eatery. Opening in April 2026 is a third restaurant, Lomri, located inside the manor house and serving up a menu inspired by the spice ports of India. Overnight hotel guests enjoy some of the benefits of membership, with access to the full range of club facilities and activities across the estate.
Plan your stay at Foxhills.co.uk
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Take reliable power with you on off-grid escapes
For travellers keen to delve into the great outdoors, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 offers the reassurance of staying powered when venturing off grid. Compact yet powerful, it delivers a 2042Wh capacity and 2200W output, supporting everything from coffee machines and hair gadgets to cameras, phones and essential tech.
Advanced CTB (Cell-to-Body) construction keeps the design streamlined, while ChargeShield 2.0 provides intelligent safety throughout your stay. It’s both fast-charging and unobtrusive, making it suitable for road trips, outdoor celebrations and longer stays away from home comforts. The result is greater independence in exceptional settings, without compromising on convenience.
Buy yours at Uk.jackery.com
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Retreat to the Cretan coast for a seaside reset
On the northeastern coast of Crete, Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas is home to 40 acres of gardens and two Blue Flag beaches. Long established as one of the island’s most distinguished addresses, the resort pairs classic Mediterranean glamour with discreet, attentive service. Suites and villas are spread along the shoreline; these include the Dreamline and Royal Yachting Villas, each generously proportioned with stylish interiors and private pools or direct sea access.
The mood is private and residential, with space to settle into leisurely days by the water. Dining options include Cretan specialities, as well as Asian fusion and Italian cuisine, with wine pairings available from the resort’s notable wine cellar. Watersports, fitness facilities and the Penthouse Spa complete a refined yet casual stay on this ever-inviting island.
Save up to 25 per cent on your stay at Eloundabeach.gr. (offer ends April 30, 2026)
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Embrace barefoot luxury in the Maldives
Set across two natural islands in the Sout Ari Atoll, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is home to villas located right on the sand and fabulous overwater villas within the turquoise lagoon – with thriving marine life all around. The Island Family retreat is designed for playful exploration with a little luxury. Begin the day snorkelling among manta rays and whale sharks, try out children’s marine-inspired activities and end a sunshine-filled day with a sunset dinner beside the ocean.
With thoughtful service and a focus on wellbeing, the resort offers family-friendly villa rates, daily breakfast and island experiences created for guests of all ages. The result is a stay made for making memories, where family connection becomes the heart of the holiday.
Book the Island Family Retreat at Conradmaldives.com
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