It’s officially summer travel season which means that it’s time to pull out those calendars, block off a few days and book your next getaway! Now, when it comes to choosing where to spend the warm, sunny months, there’s really no better destination than Europe. Fancy taking in the sights of the Ponte Vecchio from the comfort of your dining room table or does meditating in the Swiss Alps sound right up your alley? Take a peek at Hawkins International’s European properties and start finalizing those summer travel plans!
Yoga in the Mountains, Gstaad Palace
This summer, relax and meditate in the serenity of the Swiss Alps with Gstaad Palace’s new yoga retreat, Yoga in the Mountains, hosted by London’s leading women-only members’ club, Grace Belgravia. Two five-day programs will cater to yoga enthusiasts looking to learn a new skill and stay healthy on holiday. The program will include vinyasa yoga, pranayama kriya yoga and gong meditation, complemented by healthy cuisine and an energizing Jardin de Monts massage. Programs begin June 26 – July 1 and July 10 – July 15. Rates start at $3,784 per person for five nights including full board, five sessions per day and one Jardin de Monts Energizing Massage.
Summer Blossom, Dolder Grand
Dolder Grand is bringing new meaning to “April Showers, bring May Flowers,” this summer with their “Summer Blossoms” package. The resort is known for its stunning, over-the-top flower displays and the package will give guests a behind the scenes look with a one-hour workshop and tour of the herb garden and the Dolder Grand gardens. Guests will also indulge in a 90-minute Nature’s Organic Seasonal Facial by Amala, three-course dinner in the new Saltz restaurant, and night cap flower cocktail in the Bar. Rates starting at $1,767 for one person in a Double Room Superior.
Local Producers, Le Richemond
Hotel guests of Geneva’s mythic hotel Le Richemond, can embark on special “Collection of Tastes” experiences, joining specialized local producers for a day of exploring Geneva and all of its local products. Guests can book a private fishing day with a local fisherman, go on a top-secret truffle hunting adventure with Clément Jacquemier and his dog “Pistache,” discover a local vineyard with a private wine tasting or visit Le Richemond’s bee hives for a honey tasting with beekeeper, Stéphanie Vuadens. Guests can book these experiences upon request; rates starting at $429.
Hotel Paris Bastille Boutet: a Signature Hotel
The new and first five-star hotel in eastern Paris allows guests to take a historic journey into industrial elegance within the heart of the Bastille neighborhood. An oasis of peace in the 11 district, Hotel Paris Bastille Boutet is housed in a building that was first a joinery workshop and then a chocolate factory known as “Maison Boutet.” Architect Vincent Bastie and designer Astrid Dieterlen have created a must-stay address for those in the know, conceived as an elegant jumping-off point for a Parisian escapade as well as a haven of calm in a district known for its energy and life. Rates starting at $240.
Lungarno Collection
Based in Florence, Lungarno Collection is a luxury hospitality group owned by the Ferragamo family. Florentine hotels include: Portrait Firenze; Hotel Lungarno; Continentale; and Gallery Hotel Art. The collection also features a private residence, Villa Le Rose in Tuscany, as well as Portrait Roma in Rome and the Swan Yacht Collection. In May 2014, Lungarno Collection expanded the Portrait brand with the new Portrait Firenze, which paints a ‘portrait’ of Florence’s history through the hotel. Lungarno Collection also features three signature restaurants in Florence, the new Caffé del’Orro, Borgo San Jacopo and The Fusion Bar & Restaurant, along with a rooftop bar, La Terrazza, with sweeping views of the city of Florence.
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
The new JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa offers guests the best of a secluded getaway and Italian adventure. The resort is situated on its own private island, Isola delle Rose — a 20-minute complimentary boat ride from Venice’s St. Mark’s Square — with sensational views of Venice. Plenty of green space studded with native olive trees, harvested each fall for olive oil used on property, and multiple pools help guests unwind. JW Marriott Venice has an array of on-site activities including cooking classes, a Venetian mask making workshop, yoga and is home to GOCO Spa — Venice’s largest spa. Four dining options, including the Michelin-star rated Dopolavoro Dining Room which is over sense by three-star Michelin chef Giancarlo Perbellini, add Italian getaway experience. Accommodations range from Junior Suites to the Villa Rose, a private two-bedroom villa next to the lagoon. Rates start at $430/night.
Hotel Caesar Augustus
The only five-star resort on the island of Capri, Hotel Caesar Augustus is perched 2,000 feet above sea level with panoramic views of the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast. On-site La Terrazza di Lucullo by Chef Eduardo Vuolo relaunches this season with a series of rotating chef dinners and the debut of its own organic olive oil made from olives grown in the hotel’s two-acre cliff side grove. Rates start at €460/night.
Room Mate Hotels
Madrid-based Room Mate Hotels continues its rapid global expansion with the launch of two new European properties: Room Mate Giulia in Milan and Room Mate Valeria in Malaga. Room Mate Giulia is the brand’s first hotel in Milan and will serve as Room Mate Hotels’ Italian flagship property, joining sister hotels Room Mate Luca and Room Mate Isabella, both located in Florence. Rates start at €249/night.