Latest news with #BelmondHotel
New York Times
18-03-2025
- New York Times
Immersed in Elegance as the World Rolls By: Luxury Sleeper Trains
If you've longed to indulge in elegant rail travel, but thought the days of lavish cars and live music were over, you're in luck. New trains as well as new routes, amenities and special events are rolling out, enticing travelers to sit back, Champagne in hand, and glide through some of the world's most beautiful landscapes. Be it the Lake District in England or the mountainous island of Kyushu in Japan, these journeys offer suites that rival rooms in high-end hotels, and dishes from chefs whose restaurants have won Michelin stars. Here's where to climb aboard. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond Train, Europe Beginning in May, this opulent train, with its restored 1920s and '30s carriages, will offer a new, three-night journey called Paris to Tuscany by a Legend of the Rails. Step into Bar Car 3674 to enjoy live piano music before retiring to your jewel-toned room. Options include a 'historic cabin' with seats that convert to berths (communal restrooms are at the end of each sleeper carriage); a suite with its own marble bathroom and a double or twin bed that converts to a seating area; or a grand suite with a marble bathroom, double bed, dining area and 24-hour butler service. During your travels, you'll visit Siena, Italy, where you'll tour the Gothic-style historic center. You'll stop by a 13th-century palace in the Piazza del Campo where you can savor an aperitif while taking in panoramic views of the city, and spend two nights amid vineyards and olive groves at Castello di Casole, a Belmond Hotel, Tuscany. While there, stroll the grounds, join a stargazing session at the outdoor amphitheater and unwind with live music in the courtyard. Prices (including meals with wine) are from 9,350 pounds, or about $12,100 a person, based on two guests sharing a historic cabin and two nights in a junior suite at Castello di Casole. In June, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will begin traveling to Portofino from Paris again (last year was its inaugural journey), this time with an added carriage: the L'Observatoire sleeper carriage, designed by the French artist, JR. The train's largest accommodation will have its own library with more than 1,000 books, a tearoom with a fireplace, even a skylight so you can watch the clouds as the train moves along. The trip concludes at Splendido, a Belmond Hotel, which, beginning in June, will unveil renovations and updates to communal spaces, including a breakfast area, cocktail bar and Dior spa. Prices (which include meals and wine) for Paris to Portofino are from £10,400 a person, based on two guests sharing a historic cabin and two nights in a premium room at Splendido. La Dolce Vita Orient Express Channeling the allure of Italy in the 1960s and 70s, this sleek train will begin offering eight round-trip itineraries in April, each departing from Rome, where you'll find the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express lounge, at Roma Ostiense train station. From there, depending on your itinerary, you'll travel to places like Tuscany and Piedmont. Some itineraries may appeal to train buffs, such as the Rome-to-Sicily trip during which you'll see the train decouple and be loaded onto a ferry to cross the Strait of Messina, then get reassembled on the other side. Indulge in meals overseen by the chef Heinz Beck, perhaps best known for La Pergola, the three Michelin-starred restaurant in Rome. At night you'll sleep in one of 12 deluxe cabins with mirrored walls (a sofa unfolds to a double bed, and ottomans can be used as coffee tables) or in one of 18 suites with beds, sofas, tables and armchairs. An additional suite, meant to be the grandest on the train, is in the works. Prices for a one-night itinerary from 3,500 euros, or about $3,800, a person in a deluxe cabin. Should you wish to supplement your train travels with stays in Rome or Venice, the first ever hotels from Orient Express are also opening this year, including the Orient Express La Minerva, a former 17th-century palace in Rome, and the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice. The Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Train, United Kingdom Billing itself as the first luxury sleeper train touring England and Wales, this new train is scheduled to take to the rails in July. Departing from London, it will offer three-night journeys with three different routes through Wales, Cornwall and the Lake District. Inside you'll find bright cars and 18 playful, soft-hued cabins, including 15 suites and three 'grand suites' that take their inspiration from the scenic views beyond the windows and have double beds, en-suite bathrooms and butler service. The British chef Simon Rogan, whose restaurants have garnered Michelin stars, will offer dishes with seasonal ingredients inspired by Britain's various regions. Indulge in massages and facials in the wellness suite, sip a cocktail at the bar, and take part in off-train activities, including swimming in the Lake District, visiting Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Cornwall, and touring the Hauser & Wirth Somerset gallery and arts center along with dinner at the on-site restaurant, Da Costa. Prices from £11,000 (for a double cabin), including a three-night itinerary, excursions, meals and alcoholic beverages on board. Seven Stars Plan ahead for a journey on the sumptuous Seven Stars in Kyushu, the island in southern Japan known for its hot springs, mountains and mouthwatering cuisine. A glamorous sleeper train with just 10 guest rooms, Seven Stars includes eight suites and two deluxe suites, one at the end of the last car with breathtaking views through a wall-to-wall window. Savor a cup of tea in the tearoom, enjoy piano music at the Blue Moon bar, or try the new Kaz Bar, a private bar in a cabin available for use by reservation only. Itineraries, some of which include stays at a ryokan, vary with the season. All depart from and return to Hakata Station in the city of Fukuoka. To reserve, apply online (the next application period will be in the spring for journeys for fall 2025 to winter 2026) or book through a travel agent (some sell tickets as part of a package). March to June 2025 prices for a two-day journey are from 680,000 yen a person, or about $4,575, and from 1,300,000 yen for a four-day journey. Prices include meals and beverages (excluding some vintage wine and Champagne), as well as excursions. The Kaz Bar is not included in the price. Kanpachi Ichiroku For day-tripping sightseers in Kyushu, the new Kanpachi Ichiroku train enables you to gaze at the countryside while enjoying bento box meals that look (almost) too good to eat. Offering a soothing, minimalist atmosphere, the train has two runs. The Kanpachi service departs from Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, then travels to Oita prefecture; stops include Tanushimaru station, where part of the building has a head-and-beak design meant to resemble a kappa, a water creature from Japanese folklore, and Era station, where vendors sell local specialties. The Ichiroku service, begins at Beppu and ends at Hakata, with stops at Amagase station, where you can buy fortunetelling tickets that reveal their message when soaked in the hand and foot baths at the station, and Ukiha station, where you can try produce from this region. Choose from sofa-style seats, cozy box seats and private tatami rooms that can accommodate up to six with mats, seating, tables and big windows from which to watch the landscape roll by. Prices, sold only as one-way trips, include a bento box: From 18,000 yen, for adults and from 15,000 yen for children 6 to 12. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2025.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- The Independent
The best beach hotels in Sicily for white sands, private shores and clubs
Sicily's coastline is a medley of postcard beauty, long surrendered to the power of its volcanic interior that has shaped the geology of its shoreline to an assortment of beautiful craggy bays, concealed rocky caves, white mudstone cliffs and beaches made of pebbles and sand. Along with its ancient culture and heritage, fantastic fusion of cuisine influenced by the Greeks, Arabs and Africa, and nature high up to its mountains and deep down into the seas, it is no wonder that Sicily has become one of Europe 's favourite destinations where visitors can combine cultural curiosity with a relaxing beach stay. Warmed by the Ionian, Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean seas, beaches in Sicily are simply irresistible, and there are plenty of hotels and resorts catering for every holiday style – whether it be a romantic break, a family getaway or something for the budget traveller wishing to enjoy the beauty of Sicily without the price tag. Here are some handpicked best beach hotels in Sicily for your next getaway. 1. ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA Siculiana Not only is ADLER Spa Resort Sicilia one of the best resorts in Sicily, being adjacent to the Torre Salsa Nature Reserve, it harbours a secret gateway onto one of Sicily's best stretch of beaches. A narrow pathway lined with eucalyptus and maquis shrubs leads from the resort's infinity pool to the base of the cliff, where you'll find this wild and spectacular stretch of white sand that leads towards the WWF protected Torre Salsa beach and its white chalky fringe, known for sea turtles and peregrine falcons. With no tourist facilities attached to the beach, visitors are few. To avoid the steep climb back up, a buggy service is on hand to take you back to the resort. 2. Villa Sant'Andrea, a Belmond Hotel Taormina Mare Cornish engineer Robert Trewhella definitely had an eye for location, for Villa Sant'Andrea occupies one of the best seaside spots in Taormina. Built as a private villa in 1919 by one end of the beach on the Bay of Mazzaro, surrounded by the beauty of Isola Bella Nature Reserve, Belmond's Villa Sant'Andrea has been a playground of beach loving celebrities of the 1950s. The recently opened Lido Villeggiatura, the hotel's private beach club with sun loungers under beach umbrellas offering sunrise yoga, water sports, a relaxed bar, and boat trips on offer, this is the perfect place for families and friends to play under the endless Sicilian sun. 3. Hotel Le Calette Cefalu Being a popular beachside town near the capital Palermo, Cefalu can get busy. Although there is no reason to not visit the main stretch of soft sandy beach as you explore the rest of Cefalu, Hotel Le Calette lets you enjoy a quieter part of town as you wish to return and wind down from the day. With a range of rooms, suites and villas are hidden within a cove on the other side of the castle hill, the hotel has four private beaches with fine soft sands, each with own character and views. Calette Reef Club on one of the larger beach offers spectacular views of the sea to accompany the excellent restaurant menu. Address: Via Cavallaro, 12, 90015 Cefalù PA 4. I Mulini Resort Erice In a restored 18th-century salt house occupying a wedge of land on the northern end of Trapani's long stretch of beach, surrounded by a tranquil garden and decorated by an old windmill that is iconic to the west coast of Sicily, I Mulini Resort definitely has its own atmosphere of being part of this heritage landscape. The resort's own spacious private beach, equipped with sun loungers is perfect for lovers of the sea, while still being in close proximity to the town of Trapani for sightseeing, or a climb up Mount Erice for a great panorama of the coastline. 5. Sikania Eco Resort Marina di Butera Dominating the land along a stretch of wild beach on the sparsely populated southern end of Sicily, where traffic is few but nature aplenty, is the Sikania Eco Resort. A raised footpath from the centre of the resort leads directly to the sandy beach of Marina di Butera; its gentle depth is particularly suitable for families with young children. The nearest town is a few kilometres away but you'll never need to venture out from the expanse of the resort facilities. A large swimming pool, tennis court, mini golf, an entertainment amphitheatre with regular shows and a spa with sea view – this is a resort designed for the perfect family holiday. 6. Modica Beach Resort Marina di Modica Located in close proximity to many of Sicily's ancient towns and monuments, Modica Beach Resort is ideal for travellers wanting to stay somewhere with access to the beach, and still have plenty of day trip options. The resort has a private area on the beach at Marina di Modica, which is one of the favourite beaches for locals in the know. Its golden sand, washed by crystal clear waters, is fanned by frequent wind draughts that make it the beach to come for surfing and windsurfing, with plenty of lounge chairs scattered around the private beach for the sunbathers. 7. Minareto Syracuse Perched on a cliff above Baia delle Latomie bay, which is part of the protected marine reserve of Plemmirio, with views across to Syracuse and Ortigia Island, as well as the blue horizon of the Ionian Sea, Minareto is an oasis for ocean lovers. The private sandy beach at the base of the resort and a small corner of the rocky cliffs are perfect for a leisurely swim and sunbathing. For the more adventurous, the Plemmirio nature reserve and its diverse scene of marine fauna and flora can be explored with an arranged scuba diving excursion. 8. Falconara Greenblu Resort Marina di Butera With its honey coloured shell and terracotta roof, the Falconara Greenblu Resort seem to fuse with the nearby Falconara Castle. The resort's rooms and suites are scattered between the historical residence and a modern Club House extension, and are spacious and decorated in warm Sicilian mustard tones. The private beach at the foot of the hill from the resort is narrow but picturesque, with a view of the castle above the rocky cliffs. Curved and protected from the open sea, the gentle waves and shallow seabed makes this an ideal swimming beach. 9. Le Dune Resort Porto Palo di Menfi An favourite of visiting Italians from the mainland, Le Dune Resort boast it location on the quieter end of Porto Palo di Menfi beach, which is awarded both the environmental Blue Flag and the Green Flag, assigned to the best beaches for children. The resort has equipped the beach with lounge chairs, a beach volleyball court, and a fitness area. Back at the resort, guests can stroll in the lush garden to enjoy more swimming at the pool, including one for little ones. Families wishing to switch off will particularly like staying at Le Dune for its remoteness and quality beach time. 10. Calanica Resort Cefalu Much like bird nests clinging to the rockface, camouflaged into the landscape of pine and palm trees, macchia shrubs and cacti looking out towards the Tyrrhenian sea, Calanica's bungalows are a treat for those seeking a bit of privacy and isolation while still have the luxury of the standard resort services. The small cove with a stretch of pebble beach, furnished with lounge areas and sunbeds, is entirely for the guests to use, whether it be simply to relax by the sea or go for a spot of snorkelling around the rocky shores. 11. Mangia's Brucoli, an Autograph Collection hotel Brucoli Sharing a rocky coastline with no other properties, Mangia's Brucoli resort definitely has 'sea view' covered. Spread out on a patch of green landscaped garden across a small channel from Brucoli centre, this little oasis is luxury and convenience combined. Tastefully decorated rooms and suites aside, it has seven restaurants of international cuisine, three swimming pools and a gym. Its seaside location gives great access to swimming in the sea too. The resort features a sandy beach with a beach club attached, alternatively, there is a more wild and a rocky beach that is characteristic to much of Sicily's volcanic landscape. 12. UNAHOTELS Naxos Beach Sicilia Giardini Naxos This is one beachfront resort you may never need to leave. Located in the town of Naxos, south of Taormina, everything is at your fingertips at UNAHOTELS Naxos Beach Sicilia. There are a total of 630 modern and comfortable hotel rooms or villas to choose from, not that you'll notice as the buildings are surrounded by a lush garden laced with walkways great for daily strolls. The resort's extensive grounds on the wide sandy beach has two kids clubs, a spa, four swimming pools and five restaurants. So any time you are not sunning by the beach, there's always something to entertain the whole family. 13. NH Catania Parco Degli Aragonesi Catania This might not be the most luxurious hotel around town, NH's Catania Parco Degli Aragonesi resort is right by Catania Airport, which makes it one of the most convenient beachfront stays for those who, after having explored all of Sicily's wonders, simply want a few days by the beach before their onward flight. A great family resort with facilities for both adults and children, spacious modern rooms, direct access to the beach and exceptionally friendly staff. The beach across the road is part of a stretch that is popular with Catania locals, it is clean and dotted with drinks bars and deck chairs reserved for the hotel's guests. 14. LELE' Guesthouse Scoglitti This small five bedroom guesthouse in a quiet fishing village, is the definition of size isn't everything. Once a private house belonging to the grandfather of owner Oliviero, with the architecture a contemporary mimicry of ancient Roman houses that are centred around a patio, Lele Guesthouse is conveniently across the road from the beach, and has an infinity pool where you can watch the sunset over the sea. It may not be your everyday beach resort, but what the property lacks in the facilities, it makes up with a friendly hospitality and great breakfast to start your day.
