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The best hotel in the world revealed by TUI - with rooftop infinity pools, on-site watersports and private beach

The best hotel in the world revealed by TUI - with rooftop infinity pools, on-site watersports and private beach

Daily Mail​16 hours ago

Looking for a luxury escape?
TUI has named its best hotels for 2025 in the company's Global Hotel Awards and luckily for Brits, the top-rated property isn't far away at all.
To crown the best hotel, TUI looked at guest feedback from all of its properties around the world to find the hotel with the best service and quality.
Top of the list? The Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites is this year's 'crown jewel', according to TUI.
The hotel, located in Rhodes, earns 4.9 out of 5 stars on Tripadvisor based on more than 2,000 customer reviews.
TUI says: 'This hotel is built like a hillside amphitheatre, overlooking the picturesque Vilicha Bay. Sprinkled with luxe touches, like a pair of infinity pools and a sea-view gourmet restaurant, expect relaxation and pampering.'
Guests can try their hand at watersports, play a round of tennis or relax at the property's indulgent spa.
A recent customer review says: 'This hotel is total luxury. This is our third stay in this hotel it never disappoints. Every member of staff makes you feel special.'
If you're looking to travel a little further afield, TUI has crowned a property in the Maldives as its best long-haul hotel.
TUI Blue Olhuveli Romance is an adults-only hotel and each of the property's villas comes with its own private pool.
The holiday company says Olhuveli Romance offers 'barefoot luxury' and even its restaurant and reception are 'open-air sandy spaces'.
There are two swimming pools as well as a huge range of watersports including kayaking and paddleboarding.
A recent guest writes on Tripadvisor: 'Our stay and vacation were magical. We were able to enjoy every day completely and especially the resort, but above all the employees made this time perfect.'
And if you're hunting for a city break, TUI's best city hotel for 2025 is in one of Spain's most popular destinations.
The H10 Casa de la plata is a 'newly-built four star hotel' on a 'charming pedestrian street' in Seville's city centre.
TUI explains that the hotel's interior is 'inspired by the stately homes of Seville' and fuses 'traditional elements' with 'contemporary' features.
The luxury hotel has a rooftop swimming pool and is just a 500m walk from both Seville's Alcazar and cathedral.
A guest even describes the hotel as the 'best' they've 'ever stayed in', saying that 'everything was perfect'.
Meanwhile the best large hotel in the awards is the Riu Gran Canaria, a mammoth property with six restaurants and an infinity pool.
While Gran Canaria's world-famous Maspalamos Beach is just 15 minutes walk from the hotel, guests might not even want to leave. The hotel has a packed itinerary of sport and art classes and evening shows.

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Drake fans can see the star with VIP access through one website
Drake fans can see the star with VIP access through one website

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Drake fans can see the star with VIP access through one website

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Iberostar Selection Es Trenc Mallorca: I visited this new five-star hotel
Iberostar Selection Es Trenc Mallorca: I visited this new five-star hotel

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timean hour ago

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Iberostar Selection Es Trenc Mallorca: I visited this new five-star hotel

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. This luxurious new hotel, which oozes calm and style, is Mallorca at its most authentic 🌊 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Cosied up in an unbelievably plush king-size bed, with french doors opened onto endless views of the Mediterranean Sea, I soaked up the last moments of the most luxurious birthday I've had in my 28 years. The shock of a 4am alarm that morning was instantly forgotten as I arrived at Iberostar Selection Es Trenc , a newly-opened five-star hotel in a tranquil coastal town that's largely unexplored by Brits. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Iberostar Selection Es Trenc is located in Colònia de Sant Jordi, Mallorca | Iberostar This was my first visit to the Balearic Islands - an invite I gratefully snapped up for some birthday sun - and the experience shattered any preconceived notions I had of Mallorca. The hotel is located in Colonia de Sant Jordi, a historical fishing town on the south coast of the island that's around a 45-minute drive from Palma. This is Mallorca at its most authentic, where locals spend their summers exploring coves and natural parks, sipping drinks at 'chiringuitos' (beachfront bars), or soaking up the sun on nearby Es Trenc, one of the island's most breathtaking sandy beaches. 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Aside from a very turbulent outward flight, the travel was straightforward - with our transfer waiting for us at the airport, taking us through country roads and picturesque villages before we arrived at Iberostar Selection Es Trenc. A calm oasis I could feel all tension slide off my shoulders as I entered the hotel, which has been beautifully designed with calming, Mediterranean-inspired decor that reflects the natural surroundings - and it smells absolutely gorgeous. There are spectacular sea views everywhere you look. Iberostar Selection Es Trenc - overview Double rooms and suites, all with a balcony and sea views Sun terrace with main pool, by the sea Rooftop with infinity pool 1 a la carte restaurant, 1 buffet restaurant and 3 bars Wellness area with gym and treatment cabins The main pool has an unusual curved design, blending in seamlessly with the hotel's position on a natural headland that juts out into the sea. There are plenty of loungers available and a pool bar, and the atmosphere is quiet and serene - I never once had to fight for a spot. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I enjoyed the Star Prestige experience, which includes access to an impressive rooftop terrace with a bar and infinity pool, looking out onto the glittering Mediterranean sea. The Star Prestige rooftop terrace with an infinity pool | Iberostar Every room features a private balcony with sea views, and I stayed in a luxurious Star Prestige Signature Suite. It was unreal. Double sinks were positioned inside the room, an interesting feature which was both practical and meant extra time soaking up the views. Star Prestige guests are treated to extra amenities, too, such as hair straighteners, a yoga mat and a beach bag for trips. Another highlight is the wellness area, with a gym and cabins offering a range of treatments. I enjoyed the Es Trenc Signature Ritual - an exfoliation with local salts followed by a relaxing back massage - which left my skin feeling super soft. Sunrise yoga on the hotel's rooftop was another experience I'll never forget. All rooms boast a balcony with sea views | Iberostar This isn't a bustling hotel for those seeking vibrant nightlife - the buffet closes at 9.30pm and after guests enjoy the evening's live entertainment, the lobby was almost empty an hour later. That suited me perfectly for this trip, and it made for tranquil nights with just the sound of the ocean to lull me to sleep. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A taste of Mallorca Having never experienced an all-inclusive stay, the buffet far exceeded my expectations. From the beautifully fresh fish and steaks cooked to order to juicy fruit, Mallorcan cheese and devilish desserts, I was impressed by the quality of ingredients - many sourced locally. 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Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The salineros - or salt farmers - harvesting Flor de Sal at the Salinas d'Es Trenc salt flats | Salines d'es Trenc The sustainable tradition, which dates back to the 5th century, not only results in high-quality salt used by Michelin restaurants across the world, but also promotes ecological diversity and protects the natural environment. A sustainable stay A commitment to sustainability is a core part of the Iberostar brand, too. As well as championing responsible seafood and local suppliers, Iberostar Selection Es Trenc runs exclusively on renewable energy and uses state-of-the art AI technology to reduce waste in the kitchens. Evidence of the ' Wave of Change ' strategy was visible throughout my stay - from the absence of any single-use plastics and filtered water stations throughout the hotel, to an energy monitoring system in the room that lets you know about your individual savings. 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Tim Dowling: Why are my friends erasing me from their holiday memories?
Tim Dowling: Why are my friends erasing me from their holiday memories?

The Guardian

timean hour ago

  • The Guardian

Tim Dowling: Why are my friends erasing me from their holiday memories?

After a sometimes fraught four-hour car journey, my wife and I and three friends arrive at a remote, sea-facing house in Greece. I've been here once before, a couple of years ago, but my memory of the place is fragmentary. I've remembered, for example, that you can't get the car anywhere near the house – you have to lug your stuff across a beach and over some rocks – and have packed accordingly. But the view from the top of the rocks still comes as a disheartening surprise. 'I forgot about the second beach,' I say, looking at the house in the distance. 'I didn't,' my wife says. 'Press on.' As we trudge along the sand, I think: how could I not remember this? Along with my bag I am carrying my wife's suitcase – whose wheels have never been less use – just as I did two years ago. It's precisely the sort of personal hardship I pride myself on being able to relate in numbing detail. Once we're in the house my brain serves me no better: I've retained a memory of the layout, which turns out to be back-to-front. This will cause me to lose my way over and over again in the course of the coming week: seeking a terrace, I will end up on a balcony, and vice versa. 'It's not that I don't remember it,' I say to my wife the next morning. 'It's that I'm remembering it wrong.' 'Do you remember getting up in the middle of the night to stand in the cupboard?' she says. 'Yes, I do remember that,' I say. 'And I wasn't trying to stand in the cupboard, I just thought it was the bedroom door.' A few days later more friends arrive. We have all been on holiday together many times before, in varying configurations, with and without children. These memories form the basis of a lot of the conversation. One evening I walk into the kitchen where a few people are preparing supper. They're talking about an Easter weekend in Dorset long ago, and laughing about egg-rolling in terrible weather. 'I was there,' I say. Everyone stops talking and turns to look at me. 'Were you?' says Mary, dubiously. 'Yeah,' I say. 'The weather was bad, as you say, and we went egg-rolling.' I try to think of another detail from the weekend that will convince them of my presence, but absolutely nothing comes to mind. Maybe, I think, I wasn't there. My wife walks in. 'What are we talking about?' she says. 'Easter in Dorset,' says Chiara. 'I remember that,' my wife says. 'Egg-rolling in the rain.' 'That's right!' says Mary. 'When I said that, everybody looked at me as if I had dementia,' I say. Everybody looks at me again, in a way that makes me want to go and stand in a cupboard. I recently read that to retrieve a memory is also, in some way, to rewrite it. Frequently recalled episodes are particularly fragile – the more you remember them, the more fictionalised they become. But to be honest, I'm not even sure I'm remembering this correctly. The next day everyone spends the afternoon reading on the terrace. At some point I fall asleep. When I wake, my book is resting on my face, the sun has set, and I am alone. I find everyone else in the kitchen, cooking. I open a beer and listen as my wife tells a story about a holiday in Portugal from 20 years ago. She is recounting the part about the hired van getting a flat tyre while going down a hill. This, at least, I remember. 'The tyre came right off the wheel and started rolling ahead of us,' she says. 'We watched as it rolled all the way down, and halfway up the next hill, till it slowed and stopped. Then it started rolling back down towards us.' 'Well, almost,' I say. 'What?' she says. 'Am I telling it wrong?' 'No, you're being remarkably accurate,' I say. 'Which is weird, because you weren't there.' 'Yes I was,' she says. 'No, it was just me and him,' I say, pointing to a friend whom I'll call Paul, because his real name is Piers. 'Yeah, it was just us,' says Paul. 'But I remember the wheel coming off,' she says. 'I can see it.' 'It's because he's told you the story so many times,' says Paul. 'My memory has infiltrated your brain to become your memory,' I say. 'That's so sweet,' says Paul. 'If you've got any more of mine,' I say, 'I'd quite like them back.'

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