Travel destinations for any duration

Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel

A weekend in Sicily: Old stones, espresso shots and Mount Etna’s moods

If you’ve only got a weekend, make it Taormina. This sun-drenched hill town on Sicily’s east coast packs a cinematic punch, from the crumbling amphitheatre perched above the sea to the soft silhouette of Mount Etna shifting in and out of view. Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, is where to check in if you want a front-row seat to it all – and you may just recognise it from the second season of hit show The White Lotus. Time moves differently here. Literary figures, film stars and political icons have passed through its doors, but it’s the feeling – slow and slightly nostalgic – that lingers, even if your time here is short. 

Between espresso-fuelled strolls through the old town and lazy hours spent on sun-warmed terraces, there’s always room for more: a leisurely boat ride along the coast, a heaving plate of Pasta alla Norma or sea-fresh sardines at a family-run trattoria. Read, digest, then round off the afternoon with a swim off the pebbled shores of Isola Bella. Even with just 48 hours, luxury holidays in Sicily always manage to leave a mark.

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

A week in St. Lucia: Sugar plantations, rainforest paths and the quiet pull of the Pitons

A week-long luxury holiday in St. Lucia offers just enough time to get fully in step with the island’s relaxed pace – and to feel as though you've gone much further than a direct nine-hour flight from the UK. Unlike some of its Caribbean neighbours, St. Lucia is small enough to get your bearings quickly but rich enough to keep every day feeling distinct. You can swim in volcanic waters one morning and hike a rainforest trail the next. Stroll along the beach until you smell something delicious, or hear the splash of ice-cubes into freshly-made rum punch.

On the southern coast, Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, sits between the island’s iconic twin Pitons, where emerald-green slopes cascade first onto soft volcanic sand then deep blue sea. The white clapboard villas nod to the island’s colonial past, but everything else is firmly rooted in the present, from the spa pavilions built into the trees to menus shaped by local farmers and the tides, ensuring freshness, seasonality and a harmony with the local environment.

Start the day with a swim, then stretch it out with paddleboarding, snorkelling, or a guided walk through the rainforest. If you’d rather stay still, the sun, a comfy lounger and a good book will gladly keep you company. Come evening, the Pitons turn rose-gold for a moment before dissolving into an inky silhouette. Dinner might be grilled mahi-mahi and plantains under a sky thick with stars, or a five-course tasting menu complete with expertly coupled wines. How formal or casual the evening turns out depends entirely on your mood that night.

Seven days here doesn’t just create distance from everyday, but also offers space to unwind; to feel your shoulders loosen and read cover to cover, forgetting about everything at home – even if just for a little while.

Floating markets in Bangkok

Two weeks in Thailand: Lakeside stillness, dreamy beaches and the effervescent lure of Bangkok

Everything begins in Bangkok, where rooftop bars overlook gilded temples and side streets hum with the sizzle of charcoal-grilled skewers and chatter from makeshift kitchens. This is a city that moves fast but always finds room for pause, whether that’s a beer in a shaded courtyard, a moment of reflection tucked away in a shrine, or simply a bowl of something soul-warming at exactly the right moment. Staying at the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, you're right on the Chao Phraya River in a hotel that feels rooted in the city’s history while embracing that modern energy that makes it tick. While here, a tuk-tuk tour offers a close-up look at local life, and visits to the Damnoen Saduak floating market and the railway market bring you face-to-face with the organised chaos that makes Bangkok so captivating. 

From there, swap city for lakeside silence with a stay in Khao Sok National Park. You’ll stay at the 500RAI Floating Resort where mornings on the lake feel otherworldly as limestone cliffs rise from the early mist like prehistoric sentries and longtail boats carve elegant ripples across the glassy surface. The day is then yours to lay claim. That could mean a cruise across the lake itself, or a hike into the ancient surrounding rainforest and up to local waterfalls. Perhaps bamboo rafting, or kayaking on the Sok River? Or, it could mean visiting one of the ethical elephant sanctuaries, or spotting other regional flora and fauna – including the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia. Maybe you’ll simply sit on your deck, watching the light shift and listening to the mysterious sounds of jungle life. When evening comes, it arrives in a flush of pinks and golds, soundtracked by the percussion of cicadas and a soft chorus of croaking frogs.

Next, it's on to the shores of Koh Samui, where steamy jungle meets sun-warmed sand like the two are old friends, before tumbling together into the teal-coloured bath that is the Gulf of Thailand. This is the Thailand we know from postcards, and your arrival here signals another change in pace to one even slower, even more leisurely. Stay at The Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui, tucked into a private bay and surrounded by coconut palms, where the luxury is low-key and the views endless. The resort enjoys one of the island’s most privileged locations, with two secluded beaches exclusive for guests’ use and unique amenities like its swim reef and ocean pool, alongside diverse dining and private pool villas. For a more traditional dining experience, try Pak Thai where regional flavours are served in a semi-private Sala setting.

Finally, fly north to Chiang Mai for a complete change of scenery and pace. This is a soulful city nestled between mountains and mist, where golden temples, lantern-lit streets and artisan coffee shops offer a quieter, cooler slice of Thai life. Be sure to visit the city's numerous night markets to buy local silks, silverware, and intricately carved dark wood ornaments. The local speciality of Chiang Mai is Khao Soi, a creamy chicken dish delicately spiced with curry and served with crispy noodles, the perfect pick-me-up on cooler Northern nights. Your base in Northern Thailand is the serene Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai. Set amid emerald rice fields in the Mae Rim Valley, it offers a harmonious blend of classical Thai‑style pavilions and contemporary comfort with views of verdant gardens and distant mountains. The resort features world‑class dining, an expansive spa, outdoor pools and immersive experiences inspired by local Lanna culture, all delivered with the impeccable service that Four Seasons is known for.

Your time here is all about exploring Thailand at its sensory best; walking through fisherman’s villages, eating mango sticky rice under palm trees, exploring night markets with the scent of spice and sizzling meats in the air, or doing nothing at all.

Thailand reveals more the longer you stay and it’s not just about ticking boxes. Follow the thread, and let it lead you somewhere unexpected.

Awasi Atacama, a Relais & Châteaux

One month (or more) in South America: Salt flats, glacial stillness and waterfalls

Start your journey in San Pedro de Atacama, a high-altitude desert where everything feels alien in the best way possible. From the cracked white of the salt flats to the coils of smoke rising from the Tatio geysers and the eerie stillness of lunar valleys – it’s a place that doesn’t shout for your attention, but undoubtedly earns your awe. Stay at Awasi Atacama, a Relais & Châteaux lodge tucked behind adobe walls where excursions are crafted around you and each evening ends with fine Chilean wine and soft candlelight under a velveteen sky dotted with diamond-like stars. Here, you might hike through Devil’s Canyon, float in mineral-rich lagoons, or just watch as the desert turns amber, then violet and finally a deep, entrancing black.

Then comes a switch in both temperature and tempo. Fly south to Patagonia, where everything is a little colder and a lot wilder. Feel your senses sharpen at Awasi Patagonia, where freestanding villas look out across the vast Patagonian steppe – a wild, wind-swept plain stretching to the jagged peaks of Torres del Paine. Each stay includes a private guide and 4WD vehicle, so every excursion is entirely tailored to you. Your time here, no matter how long, is defined by its contrasts: puma-tracking in the morning followed by long lunches and regional reds. The next day? A horseback ride with views of the Massif, followed by a glacier hike or an afternoon by the crackling fire in your cabin.

The journey ends in Argentina, at the edge of one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls. Awasi Iguazú is tucked into the Atlantic rainforest, just 15 minutes from the entrance to the national park. Elevated wooden villas are hidden among the trees, each with a private plunge pool and an outdoor shower overlooking the jungle. As with the other Awasi lodges, the lodge assigns a private guide and 4WD vehicle to every villa, allowing you to explore at your own pace, from boat trips on the Iguazú River to treks through the surrounding forest that’s rich with orchids, toucans and butterflies.

From here, you’ll access both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of Iguazú Falls, away from the crowds and at times that suit you. Arriving on foot or by water, the roar builds before you see it or feel the cool spray on your skin. Stand in awe at its sheer scale and feel the power of nature in its rawest, most inspiring form.

This is travel defined by contrast – from the silence of the desert to the drama of Patagonia and the dense, humid atmosphere of the rainforest. What ties it together is time and the reminder that the world still holds places capable of stopping you in your tracks. Give South America a month and it will reward you with so much more.

Whether you’re planning a quick escape or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, our team of travel experts are here to make it happen. Call us, visit our Shenfield store, or enquire online today and let us tailor your next trip to your time.