Six Of The Best Autumn Sun Hotels
OD Can Jaume, Ibiza
If you're looking to escape the White Isle hedonism, look no further. Nestled into the edges of Ibiza Town, this rural hotel feels totally removed from the hustle and bustle (but is in fact only two kilometres from the Old Town).
An original Ibizan manor house, you'll be surrounded by acres of countryside, orange groves, palm trees and an incredibly blissed-out L-shaped pool (just look at the picture below). They offer 15 double rooms and suites, each with their own spacious terrace. You can either relax by the pool on a Balinese cabana bed, check into the in-room wellness treatments or arrange a private yoga session. Keen to explore? You can hire a bike (for free), arrange horse-riding or the closest beach is a 10-minute drive away.
A buffet breakfast is served between 8.30am and 12pm, and includes produce from their organic farm (fresh juice comes from the orange trees). Every Sunday, they host a weekly organic food market - La Huerta - and sell food and drink. Meanwhile every Saturday, there are food stalls, fresh juices, cocktails and organic wine, all set to the sound of live music.
For a truly blissed-out stay, OD Can Jaume is an absolute must.
Prices start from £132 in low season; and from £316 in peak summer. For more information click here.
Grand Café & Rooms, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
Sunset G&Ts on the ocean-facing terrace, restaurant tables adorned with sparkling candelabras, beds so high you need a footstool to climb into them... everything at the Grand is done with a dash of decadence. The seven rooms come with red-velvet chairs, roll-top tubs, and sea views or private courtyards, and the location is perfect – at the end of Main Street in one of the Garden Route's main hubs, a short walk from shops, bars and the beach.
The overall feel is shabby-chic meets boho world traveller, with a touch of cabaret glamour – just what you need for a memorable stay near all the action.
Grand Cafe & Rooms, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Doubles from around £64, B&B
Hotel Palais Saleya, Nice
You really can't beat an amazing location. This boutique hotel is located in the Palais de Justice square and it's a total joy to stay in. Mainly because you have essentially have everything on your doorstep: the Old Town, the Promenade, shops, restaurant, and the beach (just a three-minute walk away). There's dozens of bars just metres away (not that you'll be disturbed by the noise, mind) which are perfect for a late night cocktail or simply watching the world go by.
On top of that,tThe rooms are in pristine condition: clean, airy, stylish and complete with your own kitchenette (including an excellent coffee machine and a well stocked fridge). The breakfast, which included freshly baked croissants, fruit and baguettes, was absolutely delicious and big enough to keep you full for hours.
All the space of an apartment with the convenience of a hotel? Absolutely yes, every time.
Hotel Palais Saleya, Nice. Doubles from £246 per night.
Verana, Yelapa, Mexico
This intimate boho-chic jungle retreat sits high on a hillside above the beautiful Bay of Banderas, on Mexico's Pacific coast. It's accessible only by boat and feels wonderfully secluded, yet it's only 50 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, whose airport is now served by direct flights from the UK. Rooms consist of 10 pretty handmade houses (some open-sided, with soaring palapa roofs) which spill down the lush terraces.
There's also a spa, a spring-water pool, and a candlelit restaurant serving zingy Mexican food. Book cooking classes or whale-watching trips, take a picnic down to the deserted beach, or just swing in a hammock, margarita in hand, and gaze at the carpet of blue sea below.
Verana, Yelapa, Mexico. Doubles from around £197, room only.
L'Iglesia, El Jadida, Morocco
With direct flights to Casablanca and Essaouira taking less than four hours, Morocco's Atlantic coast is ideal for a quick dose of sun not too far from home. Under-the-radar El Jadida is one of its treasures – once an important stop on the trade route to India, now a Unesco-listed town with a burgeoning arts scene and sweeping beaches. It is also home to a super-stylish place to stay in the form of L'Iglesia, which is spread across a restored Portuguese church and former consulate.
Its 13 rooms have retro furnishings that range from Art Deco to mid-century modern, and Mies van der Rohe chairs sit under ornate chandeliers in the old nave, now a lounge-bar with live music and fantastic cocktails. The restaurant serves delicious French-Moroccan food; above are two huge roof terraces, a massage room in a tower, and even an outdoor bathtub for sunset soaks.
L'Iglesia, El Jadida, Morocco. Doubles from around £106, B&B
Mikasa, Ibiza
If it's hedonism you're after, Ibiza will always be there for you. The White Isle has got clubs - absolutely loads of them. But after the closing parties, in mid-to-late October, Ibiza really comes into it's own. You don't need house music and seriously hot beaches to enjoy the island. Plus sometimes you just want to relax, right?
Enter Mikasa, a new luxurious boutique hotel just a short walk from the beach. Located in the boujee Marina Botafoch, you're right in the heart of the marina's hustle and bustle (and surrounded by several hundred yachts). The hotel itself offers 16 deluxe but understated rooms, each named after a full moon or season, and boasts stunning views of Ibiza Old Town and the iconic Dalt Vila skyline - hop on a sea taxi and you'll be there in five minutes.
From the people behind Ibiza's BEACHOUSE, these guys certainly know how to look after you. The restaurant serves all-day breakfast (well, until 7pm – but why has no one else ever thought of this?), while the rooftop terrace houses a Lebanese restaurant serving the likes of cheese-stuffed pastry, stuffed kebbe and falafel. Don't leave without trying their extensive (and incredible) cocktail list, either.
Delicious food, magical views and fewer drunken British revellers? Mikasa should absolutely be on your Winter hit list.
Mikasa, Ibiza. Low season - £89 for standard room, high season - £220 for standard room.
An Lam Ninh Van Bay, near Nha Trang, Vietnam
Hugging a swathe of golden sand and encircled by the papaya-green waters of Ninh Van Bay, this eco-chic resort is perfect for those who want beachside luxury without the guilt. The 35 standalone villas offer an Asian twist on contemporary minimalism, with vaulted ceilings, teak walls, low-slung sofas and daybeds suspended from ropes.
The vibe is laid-back, with no pressure to do anything other than loll by the infinity pool, sip cocktails on your deck, or linger over fresh Vietnamese flavours in the waterside restaurant. If you fancy being a little more active, guided jungle walks, water sports and trips to local fishing communities can all be arranged.
An Lam Ninh Van Bay, near Nha Trang, Vietnam. Villas from around £412, B&B, including boat transfers and butler service.
The College Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Only 45 minutes by plane, Amsterdam makes for an excellent Autumn getaway. Cold enough to wrap up in your new Winter coat but still warm enough to not want to permanently hide indoors, it's the perfect time to visit.
And if you're looking for somewhere different to stay, look no further than The College Hotel. Set in a century-old former (and listed) school building, walking around the corridors gives you a glimpse into what Yale University halls might be like - grand, alluring and more than a little atmospheric. The best bit? This place is huge. Anyone from London who's used to being squished into tiny spaces will be pleasantly surprised: this boutique hotel is gloriously spacious.
The rooms are in former classrooms, and up under the wooden beams of the attic, which means they're often oddly shaped or have parts on different levels. Really, though, it all makes the place more endearing. The bed is big and extremely comfortable. Bathrooms are closed off with sliding doors, plus there’s free Wi-Fi and coffee-making facilities.
The location is superb, too. Just a 10-minute stroll from the Concertgebouw and the three major museums of Museumplein (Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk), and the café quarter of De Pijp, you're in the hustle and bustle no matter which way you turn. The tram stop is right outside the hotel, and De Pijp metro station is 10 minutes’ walk away (and from there a five-minute ride into Centraal Station).
The hotel's bar is one of the city's hot spots and the restaurant (set in the old school gym) serves 'New Dutch' cuisine. Just to flag, it's a popular destination, meaning you might need a reservation for dinner. In addition to a long lounge/restaurant area, there’s a garden courtyard where you can dine in warmer weather. The hotel also has bicycles available for hire.
A charming spot that's good value for money - we'd totally recommend.
The College Hotel, prices starts from £126, B&B.
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