Even when the calendar is tight, there’s no reason a short break should feel slight. A well-chosen long weekend can reset perspective, fuel curiosity and immerse you in places that linger in memory long after you’ve unpacked.
Below are seven exceptional hotel escapes, each with its own sense of style and a setting that proves quality doesn’t depend on quantity of time alone.
The Gritti Palace, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice: Canals and classic style
Venice wears its history on every pastel-hued façade and reflects it in each shimmering canal. There is no better place to tap into this than The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel on the Grand Canal. A former noble residence dating back centuries, its elegantly restored interiors recall an era when the city’s palaces set the benchmark that came to define the city’s elegance.
The rooms and suites are individually styled with antiques, textiles and hand-blown Murano glass, with many opening onto views over the water that change with the light. Dine on regional classics at Club del Doge or linger over an aperitivo by the water at the iconic Riva Lounge – the epitome of Venetian elegance. As dusk falls, drift out into the city’s labyrinth of lanes and bridges, where a sense of romance hangs in the air along with the clink and chatter from the Bacari (small, traditional bars).
The Pig Hotel, The New Forest: A country house with character
For something closer to home that still feels like a true escape, The Pig, nestled in the New Forest, blends relaxed country charm with genuine heart. Set within ancient woodlands and wildflower meadows, this country house hotel has become a go‑to for city escapees seeking nature and great food without sacrificing comfort or signing themselves up for a lengthy journey. The rooms, from cosy classics to secretive cabins tucked in the trees, feel lived‑in and welcoming with thoughtful touches and plenty of character.
Yet the core draw here is the kitchen garden and restaurant, where most produce is picked, foraged or reared within a short radius before it lands on your plate. Afternoon walks take you past free-roaming New Forest ponies and ancient oaks, while evenings are about firing up conversation by the lounge fire or lingering over a seasonal dinner paired with English wines and botanical cocktails. What better way to spend a short weekend away?
Shangri-La Paris: Refined Parisian style in the City of Light
Paris needs little introduction, but a stay at Shangri-La Paris reframes the city’s familiar charms with the grandeur of a palace and the intimacy of a residential hideaway. Once the home of Prince Roland Bonaparte, this elegant 5-star hotel sits within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, combining classical Parisian architecture with contemporary comfort. Rooms and suites offer views across the city or of the iconic tower itself, while communal spaces let you savour the effortless chic of Parisian life. There’s no truer ‘I’m in Paris’ moment than standing on your private terrace, sipping on Champagne and watching as the tower shimmers into life against the navy-blue night sky.
Dine beneath a glass cupola at La Bauhinia, where refined French and international cuisine is elevated by seasonal ingredients and expert technique, or choose Shang Palace, the hotel’s Michelin‑starred Chinese restaurant renowned for authentic Cantonese dishes and fine dining experiences. After a day on cobblestone streets or cultural boulevards, unwind at Chi, The Spa, with its indoor pool bathed in natural light and holistic treatments designed to restore calm.
One&Only Kéa Island: Untouched Aegean calm
For a weekend that feels a world away without feeling rushed, One&Only Kéa Island in the Greek Cyclades offers serenity matched with thoughtful luxury. Perched above clear Aegean waters and fringed by a sandy beach, this recently opened resort spreads across 65 hectares of coastline where every suite or villa opens to sea views and private space that encourages you simply to breathe.
Pools and hillside paths capture the shifting light at sunset, and the hotel’s curated dining and spa menus bring a thoughtful sense of calm to each day. For a long weekend, perhaps at Easter, arriving on a Thursday evening means you’re settled by sunset, awake on Friday to have breakfast by the sea, before exploring at your own pace over the next couple of days. One&Only Kea Island’s location – reachable in under an hour from Athens by speedboat from Lavrio – makes it ideal for a Thursday‑to‑Monday break that feels truly far from routine, yet refreshingly achievable.
1 Hotel Copenhagen: Nordic design meets Copenhagen cool
Copenhagen is fast becoming Scandinavia’s premier holiday destination, thanks to its effortless blend of historic charm and cutting-edge creativity, making it the perfect backdrop for a weekend that’s chic and considered in equal measure. Spaces within 1 Hotel Copenhagen feel – in typically Scandi-style – bright and breezy, with plenty of light woods, neutral tones and tactile furnishings to channel that Danish sense of ‘hygge’. Housed in a thoughtfully reimagined historic building in the Latin Quarter, the hotel’s 282 rooms and suites draw inspiration from nature, complete with wellness touches that reflect the city’s cosmopolitan spirit and eco-conscious ethos.
Step outside and the Danish capital unfolds on your doorstep, from cosy cafés where the scent of cinnamon buns and freshly ground coffee beans lingers in the air, to world-class museums, canalside strolls and a network of cycle paths that give the city its distinctive ‘outdoorsy’ feel. Copenhagen’s dining scene is a standout, too. From stylish wine bars and smørrebrød spots to Michelin-starred institutions, there’s no shortage of places to eat and drink well. For something truly exceptional, Noma – a pioneer of New Nordic cuisine – continues to shape the global culinary conversation with its hyper-seasonal tasting menus and innovative approach to foraging. Be sure to speak with your personal travel manager about securing a table well in advance.
Noma is featured in our curated guide to the world’s best private dining rooms. Explore the full list and get inspired for your next exclusive culinary experience.
Rosewood Vienna: Imperial elegance in Austria’s capital
Vienna’s cultural riches and grand boulevards make it an ideal choice for a short city break that feels both opulent and intimate – rich in history, yet rewarding in the present. At Rosewood Vienna, these quintessentially Viennese qualities are distilled into an elegant hotel experience at the heart of the Old Town. Set on historic Petersplatz, the neoclassical hotel occupies the former headquarters of Erste Bank and even includes an apartment once home to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. From here, you’re within easy reach of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the spectacular Hofburg Imperial Palace, plus a wealth of galleries, cafés and classic coffee houses that define the city’s refined character.
Inside the hotel, world-class service pairs with thoughtful design to elevate every moment of your stay – regardless of how long or short. The Asaya Spa offers restorative treatments and wellness journeys to soothe tired travellers after a morning of museum-hopping or boutique browsing, while the rooftop terrace and bar provide a chic setting for evening cocktails above the city skyline. Whether you’re returning from cobblestone streets to unwind with a book or planning your next cultural outing after a day of art and history, settling in here feels effortlessly satisfying, with rooms that balance contemporary elegance and spacious comfort in a setting that’s unmistakably Viennese.
Lake Garda & Milan: Lakeside calm with Italian style
For those wanting a mix of scenic tranquillity and metropolitan flair, northern Italy delivers beautifully. We’d suggest basing yourself on the shores of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, where sparkling water is framed by mountains and charming towns such as Sirmione and Lazise, each with cobblestone streets, cafés and dramatic lakeside views lifted straight from our dreamiest imaginings of the region.
When it comes to where to stay, there’s nowhere more elegant – or more evocative of the area’s timeless charm – than Villa Cortine Palace Relais & Châteaux. This luxury hotel sits atop the gentle hillside of the Sirmione peninsula, overlooking the lake and nestled within a five-hectare private park dotted with centuries-old trees, ornamental fountains and statues that speak to a bygone era of romance. The neoclassical façade rises above the cypress trees like something from a 19th-century painting, all marble columns, manicured lawns and picture-book vistas. Step inside and you’ll find interiors that whisper of old-world glamour in the form of gilded mirrors, frescoed ceilings and polished parquet underfoot. Adding to the cinematic feel, many rooms open onto balconies or terraces, perfect for watching the water glow gold at sunset or enjoying a slow morning as the lake stirs to life.
And if you’re craving a change of pace, Milan is easily reached in under an hour by high-speed train, making it an ideal day-trip destination. Combine a couple of days of lakeside serenity with an day spent immersed in the city’s vibrant fashion, design and dining scene – the perfect long weekend, Italian-style.
Weekend breaks don’t have to be predictable. Each of these hotels celebrates its place, whether that place is old‑world canals, ancient forests, a lakeside hideaway, Parisian boulevards or Cycladic shores. They prove that with the right backdrop and careful design, a couple of nights can become a story worth telling.
Time to speak to the experts:
Got a sense of which weekend calls to you? Our personal travel managers can help tailor every detail from room requests to curated experiences to shape your perfect short escape. Call us on 0203 816 0985, pop into our Shenfield store, or enquire online today and start planning your perfect luxury weekend break.
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