Portugal has more to offer than just sea and beaches.
This year you should think about heading to the beautiful rolling landscape and hilltop defences of the Alentejo region not far away from the Spanish border towards Sevilla. Hotel Dá Licença with just 5 luxury suites is located on the Herdade das Freiras. It embraces three hundred acres and magnificent hills, including more than thirteen thousand olive trees, emerging on pure, white and pink marble rocks. The suites up to 180 sqm have large and spectacular bathrooms. The washbasins are individually sculpted by a local artist, and two suites include a bath in local marble block. Large patios or terraces for more privacy provide incredible views over the natural landscape. Two suites, called My Pool and Sky Pool, each with a private marble finish pool and saltwater treatment are decorated with private and unique art pieces in a sleek elegant still rural design. The location is unique, with its wonderful 360º view into the Serra d’Ossa forest and into the beautiful castles of Evoramonte and Estremoz, in Medieval and Manueline style. #1 of dreamlike remote destinations in Portugal.
Hotel Da Licenca closest airports are Badajoz LEBZ (1 h by car) or Evora LPEV (50 min by car) https://dalicenca.pt/en/ Book your trip
Spain Baleares islands, why not – think about Menorca this year.
There is a unique concept on the island. The Fontenille Menorca Hotel: one hotel, two experiences in two separate fincas which offer, thanks to the many interactions between both hotels and their proximity, a large pallet of opportunities for guests staying in both hotels.
20 ha each of vines and aromatic plants, hundreds of orange, lemon, pomegranate and olive trees, an organic permaculture vegetable garden, a vinification cellar, an essential oils distillery, an oil mill, a honey house: farming in Fontenille Menorca is an undeniable fact of everyday life. To Fontenille Menorca, agrotourism isn’t a marketing strategy, it’s a way of life. They place agriculture, naturalness, traceability, and connection to mother earth at the centre of their concerns. However, they don’t forget the beauty of design and the heritage of these two very different and exceptional fincas. Torre Vella is the ultimate finca. Implemented on a site inhabited for over 9000 years, it extends its secrets to the cliffs which border 1700 meters of the coastline of the 200-ha property. While Santa Ponsa is an old 17th century palace whose luxuriant gardens and terraces, supplied in water through a 17th century watering system, are listed monuments. Torre Vella was thought out as a simple bohemian retreat : lunch under the green oaks, outside massage tables, drinks and candlelight dinners at the top of the cliffs overlooking the sea. The décor is extremely sleek with a genuinely bohemian chic spirit. Some of the suites have their private pool to enjoy full privacy. #1 of dreamlike remote destinations on the Balearic Islands .
Fontenille Menorca the Menorca Airport LEMH is approx 20 min to Santa Ponsa or Torre Vellahttps://fontenillemenorca.com/en Book your trip
Italy’s famous region of Montalcino is not only a paradise for wine lovers
About 15 minutes from Montalcino and 50 minutes from Siena is a hidden place that has it all. When Massimo Ferragamo once found the estate he luckily decided not only to run the fantastic winery but also to create a hideaway refuge by restoring the old stone and farmhouses on the grounds and to create the most beautiful and spacious villas with lush gardens in the middle of the sweeping Tuscan landscape. Here you combine the luxury service of a 5-star-hotel with the intimacy of your private villa. The estate provides a private golf course, trekking trails and empty roads for bicycle tours, and for the evening two restaurants or your private chef in the villa. Or what about a cooking class or wine tasting? There is no need to leave the huge domain but many excuses to do so. The Val d’Orcia and the surrounding is not crowded but rather studded with the best wineries, delicious restaurants and not far away from the sea and the excellent Bolgheri wine region in its natural mountain setting. In case you don’t want to leave your beautiful villa alone for too long, just take a helicopter to visit the seaside wineries. Or head to a break on the sea on a classic wooden 18-m yacht. Interested in modern tech excursions? Head to a private VIP guided tour of the Ferrari factory’s V8 and V12 assembly lines and F1 Department or one of so many other unique experiences… and always stay away from the crowds. The choice of villas is hard to take. They are all so special and decorated with love. But if you if you need advice, our favorites are Villa Agresto (we call it The View) and Villa Stabbi (so sophisticated typically Tuscan). #1 of dreamlike remote destinations in Italy.
Castiglion Del Bosco Villa rents nearest airport is Grosseto LIRS (1 h) or Siena LIQS (50 min, restrictions on customs) http://www.castigliondelbosco.com Book your trip