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Times
a day ago
- Times
The St Regis Bali Resort review: all-out luxury and a private beach
It's not just that there's a chocolate fountain at the buffet restaurant; it's that there's a chocolate fountain as well as high-quality sushi, bao buns, calamari, a carvery and a whole island's worth of Indonesian food choices too. That's just one of half-a-dozen eating options at the St Regis — and the restaurants are themselves only a part of the resort's attractions. There is everything you want here, and plenty you didn't even know you wanted (artificial warm-water lagoon? Why ever not?). Silk-smooth service keeps even the most demanding guest happy (and, with a fair few society weddings and a lot of honeymooners here, one can assume that there are indeed some some demanding guests). Factor in Nusa Dua's famously photogenic cocoa sands alongside — plus Bali's infamous traffic jams hidden beyond the front gate — and you may find you just can't bring yourself to leave. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Score 8/10Plush comes as standard in every one of the 124 faintly oriental-style rooms: even the entry-level suites have double sinks, walk-in wardrobes, huge baths and showers, and proper butlers. But paying extra adds significant 'wow' here. In the main building, spend a little more and you'll get a better view (over either the lovely rambling gardens or the sea); but spring for a villa and you get your own garden and private pool. Strand villas give you that plus what is effectively your personal slice of beach, but the slightly cheaper lagoon-access villas are truly unique: step straight out of your room and into the invitingly frond-fringed waters of this vast freeform pool/lake. Come dusk it's lantern-lit and headily atmospheric. Score 9/10That roast-beef-to-rendang all-you-can-eat we mentioned? That's the buffet restaurant here — the kind that dishes up lobster omelette for breakfast (every bit as good as it sounds, incidentally). Elsewhere on the property, Dulang is a lovely open-sided gazebo in the gardens, serving Balinese cuisine; Gourmand Deli does 'snacks', from dainty little chocolates up to full-on pasta feasts; Kayaputi serves modern pan-Asian beside the beach; and there are regular pop-ups with big-name visiting chefs from Australia and beyond. Food and drink is a real memory-maker here — from the oyster-and-wagyu Sunday brunch (where the chilli and lemongrass-infused Bloody Mary is even better than the Duval Leroy Champagne) to the nightly sabrage ritual in the St Regis Bar, where swords are used to open bottles of fizz. • Discover our full guide to Bali• More of the best hotels in Bali Score 8/10Go for a wander in the gardens and you could easily miss lunch as you unexpectedly uncover lawns, hammocks, cabanas, ping-pong tables and sunbed jetties on the edge of that artificial lagoon. Meanwhile, you could lose whole days in the Iridium Spa, where the treatment list includes a bloody mary-inspired wellness ritual featuring a 'purifying vodka and tomato clay wrap' (the cocktail was invented at the St Regis New York in the 1940s). There's a great kids' club where activities run from rocking out with musical instruments all the way through to yoga (though they insist on calling it the Children's Learning Center, which might be a tough sell to your offspring). As well as that lagoon, there's a lovely sprawling main pool that feels like an adventure to swim in. Score 7/10Only eight miles from the airport — a real blessing after an 18-hour flight — the St Regis reclines regally along the smoothest stretch of Nusa Dua's strand. The beach is perfect (though coral and seaweed under the surface mean swimming's more serene in the pools than the ocean). And if you want a bit of action you can snorkel off it — nothing spectacular, but some nice fish — or stroll five minutes along the beach till you come to the public bit, where the waves are perfect for beginner surfers, and you can hire a board and/or instructor by the hour. Want a different kind of action? The bustle (and bar life) of Seminyak is only 40-odd minutes' drive away. Price B&B doubles from £382Restaurant mains from £14Family-friendly YAccessible Y Ed Grenby was a guest of the St. Regis Bali ( • Bali honeymoon ideas: the 10 most romantic places to stay• Best luxury villas in Bali
Times
22-07-2025
- Times
22 of the best family hotels in the Maldives
Palm-painted paradise islands surrounded by concentric circles of the softest whitest sands; warm, calm, turquoise lagoons; and coral reefs populated with colourful little fishes — honeymooners may have originally claimed the Maldives as their own, but this country might have been made for families. Then there are the resorts, which go all-out to create memorable family holidays. Spacious villas often have private pools — and sometimes waterslides — and there's an endless array of fun-for-everyone activities from snorkelling to treasure hunts, to dolphin-spotting cruises, to watching baby turtles hatch on the beach. Kids' clubs have been taken to a new level, with giant pirate ships, climbing walls, 3D-printers, designer dress-up boxes, sustainability sessions and talks with marine biologists — leaving parents free to hit the spa, learn to dive, and indulge in candlelit meals beneath the stars. Whether you've got toddlers, tweens or teens in tow, follow our guide to the archipelago's best family hotels. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue ££ | POOL | SPA | Best for an off-the-beaten-track stay The longer journey time to JA Manafaru — it takes a 90-minute domestic flight from the capital plus a 45-minute speedboat ride to reach the resort — is better suited to older kids with plenty of stamina. As is the resort, which has a seemingly endless array of outdoor activities, from cookery classes to parasailing, tennis, badminton and volleyball. Family villas come with private pools and the all-inclusive option is a boon for families, especially considering how good the food is. But the real star attraction here is the still untouched Haa Alif atoll, teeming with healthy multicoloured coral reefs, manta rays, turtles, eels and eagle rays. • Discover our full guide to the Maldives ££ | POOL | SPA | Best for tweens and teensThis swish island resort pulls off a neat trick, catering equally well to honeymooners, solo travellers and families. Found on swathes of clotted-cream beach or stilted over turquoise water, all of the villas are super-sized with private pools and acres of outdoor space, so the children can squeal and giggle without disturbing the neighbours. Adventurous programmes encourage munchkins to ditch the video games in favour of scouring the island in a series of puzzles and challenges — lizard-spotting, coral reef-scaping, wishing-tree walks — gaining stamps that can be traded in for toys and ice-cream sundaes.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for snorkelling Grab your bucket and spade — the big draw at this flamboyant resort is its magnificent white sand beach and sandbank, which swoops through the Baa Atoll like a comet. There's an inflatable waterpark set just offshore, a lagoon-shaped swimming pool and fantastic marine life with colourful corals and swirls of tropical fish in the house reef and spinner dolphins, sea turtles and manta rays all nearby. The Oceaneer's Club has a long list of daily activities — pirate workshops, sand art, kayaking competitions — and can throw birthday parties with gifts, games and cake.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for fashionable families Slick Patina Maldives has a few big draws for families. First, there's the location, just 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé. Then there's the sheer number of things to do. Patina is part of the Fari Islands, an artificial archipelago housing three resorts and a shared marina, with a beach club, water sports centre and multiple restaurants. The gently sloping main beach is sheltered on three sides, so it's always lake-calm and children get a free scuba-diving lesson, kayaks and paddleboard usage. The kids' club is a progressive affair, with mad science classes, 3D printers and Glowforge laser cutters. You'll find the entry-level villas aren't the largest but the two-bedroom pool villas are very spacious and can accommodate up to six guests.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for dolphin spottingThis contemporary luxury resort is set in a beautiful lagoon — complete with its very own mini blue hole — where spinner dolphins, sea turtles and manta rays swing by on a regular basis. The 67 villas — some on the beach and some over water — are spacious, with Hamptons-chic decor, big living rooms, private swimming pools and plenty of outdoor space. Happily, the Sultan's Village kids' club has some of the longest hours in the Maldives, from 9am until 8pm, and entertains with next-level sandcastle-making, kombucha classes and a Friday night disco.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for sustainable stays Everything at Gili Lankanfushi feels like an adventure, from the fantastical thatched-roof water villas, some of which are cast out in the Indian Ocean and can only be reached by boat, to mealtimes, which can involve fishing or foraging. The entire resort is big on conservation and promoting Maldivian culture and that extends to the kids' club, which puts on wild art classes using palm leaves and coconuts, underwater treasure hunts with a marine biologist and boduberu drumming classes. While they're busy, parents can head to the wonderful Meera Spa for some unravelling ayurvedic treatments. Read our full review of Gili Lankanfushi££ | POOL | SPA | Best for arty types It's not every island resort that has its own art gallery, never mind one that's underwater. But snorkel along Sirru Fen Fushi's shore and you'll find a semi-submerged steel box filled with mesmerising underwater sculptures, designed by Jason deCaires Taylor, which doubles as artificial coral reef. The artsy theme continues above the surface, where families can learn Maldivian painting techniques at art school and hang out in stylish family villas with private pools and free minibars. There's also miles of pearly beach and a kids' club for children aged four and above.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for turtles You're more likely to bump into sea turtles than guests on this sprawling jungly island in the remote Gaafu Alifu Atoll. Hawksbills, olive ridleys and green turtles make regular appearances, in the house reef but also along the shore and under the water villas — meaning you're pretty much guaranteed a daily sighting. It's attached to a sister resort by a kilometre-long wooden bridge and everyone gets around on bicycles, making runs from the beach to the gigantic infinity pool to cooking classes and the kids' club heaps of fun. Happily, you can reach it by commercial jet so you won't have to wrestle any nervous children onto a cramped seaplane.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for large families This forward-thinking eco-resort in the manta ray-teeming Baa Atoll has huge family villas with private pools, upstairs sun decks, direct beach access and up to nine bedrooms. It's big on facilities too; aside from its kids' club, The Den, there's a cookery school, a library, an outdoor cinema, a recycled glass-blowing studio, tennis courts and an observatory, where, on a clear night, you can marvel at the rings of Saturn. And then there are the animals: a veritable menagerie of fluffy rabbits, flapping chickens and fruit bats coursing around the island. Read our full review of Soneva Fushi££ | POOL | SPA | Best for personal service This family-friendly resort in dolphin-packed Shaviyani Atoll is primped and preened to sandy perfection, from the raked beaches and sea-view restaurants to the spa's glass-encased treatment rooms. It excels in the way it cares for families; the service is as warm as the Maldivian sun; duplex villas have two bedrooms, private pools and an upstairs den for movie nights; and the Little Griffins kids' club has a 13m pirate ship and over 100 activities a week. Babysitting is complimentary and children under the age of 12 eat for free. ££ | POOL | SPA | Best for little superstars This low-key resort in the Baa Atoll has a long list of loyal guests, including Madonna who visited for a family holiday with her six children. On arrival, little ones are given mini bathrobes and slippers, comics and books, a parrotfish soft toy and an indoor tepee. Later, those aged between 3 and 12 can check into the treehouse-themed kids' club, while teens can take part in foosball and volleyball competitions at the Coconut Club. The beach is a beauty, while the house reef is easy to access and in excellent shape, teeming with clown fish (Nemos), powder blue tang (Dorys) and sea turtles. • Read our full review of Vakkaru Maldives££ | POOL | SPA | Best for energetic families Run by a smashing team, Ritz Kids is hidden inside a Teletubbies-style grassy knoll with a mega-climbing frame, swimming pool, water slides and water jets at its centre, while indoor spaces include a gaming room and napping pods. For older children, there's a separate activity centre with pool tables and a photography studio. The whole family can enjoy cycling around nearly two miles of sandy lanes and at the excellent Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment programme (the only one in the Maldives) you can learn about ocean conservation using drones and underwater robots.£ | POOL | SPA | Best for affordable fun It's unusual to find a resort in the Maldives that brings anything other than pricy private villas, but this large, cheerful resort in the barely developed Dhaalu Atoll has more affordable rooms and family-sized apartments, as well as water villas and beach villas. Children under the age of six can stay and eat for free (every restaurant, including the fine-dining restaurant and the teppanyaki grill, have children's menus) and there's an action-packed kids' club, Kandiland, with a climbing wall, trampoline and waterpark, open from 9am to 7pm every day.£ | POOL | SPA | Best for sporty types Parents will love the hip Ibiza-esque design, feel-good spa treatments and choice of five different bars. Children, meanwhile, will love the club houses (one for wee tykes and one for teens), beach sports and adventure trips. The all-inclusive is likely to keep everyone smiling; it covers everything from tennis and yoga classes to in-room minibars and barista-made coffee, as well as unlimited ice cream and non-motorised watersports. Family lagoon villas are the accommodation of choice, rolling straight onto bright white beach and into placid Tiffany-blue waters. Read our full review of Lux* South Ari Atoll£££ | POOL | SPA | Best for budding marine biologists At Six Senses Laamu children can learn to be a marine biologist before they even get their feet wet, with a free ten-week junior marine biologist online programme, video tutorials, downloadable colouring-in books and worksheets, and home experiments. Any newfound skills can be put into action when they arrive in the remote Laamu Atoll (which also doubled as Planet Scarif in the Star Wars movie Rogue One), with swims through fields of seagrass (the favourite food of green sea turtles), snorkels with manta rays and kayak tours through shadowy mangroves.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for keeping little ones entertained The five-star Sun Siyam Iru Fushi provides plenty of creature comforts for stressed-out parents — not least its award-winning Balinese-style spa — as well as a dedicated kids' club to keep youngsters entertained too. They can burn off energy thanks to ping-pong, billiard tables and splashing about in the family pool, while parents can escape to the hair salon, enjoy wellness and yoga sessions, and swim in the adult-only pool. Live entertainment and DJ sets — and enough restaurants to dine somewhere different each night for a fortnight — mean that any little ones are unlikely to get bored. You can opt to go all-inclusive, though options for B&B, half-board, and full-board holidays are available too. Up to two children can stay and eat on the same basis as their parents, free of charge.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for TikTokkersThis easy-to-access property in the north Malé Atoll, a 50-minute speedboat ride from the airport, has some of the biggest entry-level beach and water villas in the Maldives. Every villa comes with a large private infinity pool and a rooftop deck perfect for family movie nights complete with boxes of popcorn. Access to the kids' club (open to children aged from three to 11, from 9am until 7pm) is included in the rate and kayaks, SUPs and other non-motorised water sports are free to use, as are the tennis courts and football pitch.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for water babiesIt's not every resort in the Maldives that has manta rays in the backyard — in fact, it's pretty rare to find the creatures outside of certain atolls at certain times of year — but cross the bridge that links the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island's two beautiful all-natural islands and the chances are you'll spot at least a couple of the magnificent mobulidae pirouetting along the surface. Book a boat trip and you'll also encounter whale sharks, green sea turtles and dolphins. Back on land, there's a complimentary kids' club for three to 12-year-olds and plenty of free activities for older kids, including scuba diving intros in the pool and windsurfing along the beach. Food won't be an issue either, with 12 superb dining options, including underwater restaurant Ithaa.££ | POOL | SPA | Best for beachIt's sandcastle heaven at this pretty island resort located in the Maldives' northern Lhaviyani Atoll. The natural island is ringed by a long band of broad white sand flecked with coral, seashells and tiny hermit crabs, which gently slopes into the warm shallow Indian Ocean — perfect for tots. All of the villas come with outdoor space but the beach villas feel more spacious, even if the decor is a bit businesslike. The kids' club, with its soft play area and slides, allows parents to enjoy some grown-up time at the adult-only pool and excellent spa.£££ | POOL | SPA | Best for action-packed all-inclusive There's no shortage of all-inclusive resorts nowadays but Ozen Reserve Bolifushi is a cut above the rest in terms of facilities and value for money. The island itself is large enough to comfortably accommodate 91 pool villas, including water villas with slides whooshing into the ocean, as well as a communal infinity pool, a sea-facing gym, an ice-skating rink, an overwater spa, a kids' club and a teens' lounge. The Reserve Plan includes all five restaurants, theme nights, unlimited champagne and aged whiskies, free laundry and a spoiling three hours of daily spa treatments.£££ | POOL | SPA | Best for laid-back luxury This hip luxury resort is the place for a family holiday that feels more personalised than some of the big international chains. The kids' club at Joali has especially long opening hours, from 9am to 8pm, and every activity is complimentary, from cooking classes and ceramic art classes to tennis coaching and DJ workshops. All of the cathedral-like villas come with private infinity pools and there are a number of two, three and four-bedroom residences available if you want to bring the whole clan. No one will go hungry or thirsty either, with five restaurants, a sunset bar, a whisky and cigar lounge and an ice-cream parlour to choose from. Read our full review of Joali Maldives£££ | POOL | SPA | Best for heirs to the throne If Succession's Kendall Roy built a private island escape it might look something like this oval-shaped island in the resplendent Noonu Atoll. Aside from having its own private seaplane, and the requisite supersized luxury villas, Velaa packs in a wealth of facilities, including a golf academy and seven-hole course designed by José María Olazábal, a holistic overwater spa with a snow room, and space-age restaurant tower with a secret wine cellar. Heirs to the throne are catered to with a kids' club that has its own waterpark; water jet boot lessons with staff dressed as superheroes (Spider-Man, Superman, Iron Man); and padel lessons with ex-tennis pros on fan-cooled courts. • When is the best time to visit the Maldives?• Discover the best overwater villas in the Maldives• Read about the best hotels in the Maldives Additional reporting by Hannah Summers
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Terrifying warning about ultra-luxe American vacation spot... as the world's most vile crimes hijack paradise city
The sun-drenched sands, long a glittering getaway for A-listers, spring breakers and honeymooners, have been shattered by a surge in violence, raising alarm about the safety of the beloved tourist draw. Once considered a safe haven in Baja California Sur, Cabo San Lucas is now in the crosshairs of drug gangs, with shootouts, arson attacks, and brazen intimidation unfolding scarily close to its beaches and $500-a-night hotels.
Times
27-06-2025
- Times
Amor Arenal hotel review: sleep in the shadows of a Costa Rican volcano
Just 5 per cent of Amor's 250-acre undulating land was used to create this adult-friendly boutique hotel, which edges a rainforested canyon in full view of Arenal volcano. Each of the immaculate shiny-wood casitas (cottages) stands alone, lusciously enveloped by tropical foliage, and with the restaurant, bar, open-air spa, pools and gym all hidden amid this intense greenery, the resort feels deceptively small and looks empty, even when full. Guests either cocoon themselves in their casitas — taking full advantage of their rainforest-view spa pools — wander local trails or explore Arenal's zip lines, aerial walkways and thermal springs. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Score 9/10Amor's 31 casitas are essentially chocolate-box cottages, crafted from at least six varieties of precious hardwood, with private terraces for peering up at Arenal's famous volcano. It's heaven for honeymooners — think cloud-soft beds heaped with cushions, heated whirlpools and strong, rainforest-view double-head showers — and also suits friends travelling together (some rooms have twin queen beds). Yoga mats, kettle bells, plates of sweet treats and even hair straighteners are welcome touches. Light sleepers might find the lack of curtains unnerving, but even if the dawn light doesn't wake you up the howler monkeys will certainly sound the alarm. Just be aware that while all casitas are volcano-facing, the encroaching rainforest conceals the view from some. Buggies can be called upon to whisk those staying in the furthest flung accommodation to the restaurant sweat-free. Score 9/10The chefs are very selective with their produce, favouring organic, seasonal and regional ingredients. El Rancho, the main restaurant with a volcano-view terrace, infuses Latin American flavour into its dishes, though Mexico, Italy and Peru are well represented too. Breakfasts are hearty (think burritos bursting with fillings) but there are also lighter options: homemade pastries, fresh fruit and creamy oats. For something different, amble down the boardwalk from the restaurant (look out for resident red-eyed tree frogs) to La Jaranita Bar and Tico Grill where in-table barbecues are poised for socially grilling gallitos (soft corn tortillas). The hotel has a considered wine menu and a cocktail cart championing sugar cane-based guaro cacique concoctions. Foodies can also sign up for cookery demos, wine tasting and a chef's table dinner. • Read our full guide to Costa Rica• Best places to visit in Costa Rica Score 9/10It's hard to resist the allure of the gorgeously designed spa. Peeping between curtains of vines are sensual open-sided massage rooms, a thatched yoga shala and a meditation pavilion. It's rightfully popular, so worth booking a treatment before you come, though anyone can join the daily morning wellness classes focussing on yoga, meditation or sound therapy. Two trails explore Amor's canyon, past waterfalls, bubbling streams and pristine rainforest, though you'll need a guide if you are tackling the more challenging route. The hotel also has a couple of spring-fed pools backed by trickling waterfalls, lipstick palms and ginger, and a very well equipped gym furnished with functional training and cardio equipment as well as free weights. Score 9/10Arenal is Costa Rica's most photographed volcano and nothing but rainforest stands between Amor and this pointed peak (but don't worry, the volcano is currently 'resting'). This region is the country's undisputed adventure capital with treks, trails and aerial walkways leading through wildlife-dense rainforest, lakes for paddleboarding and meandering rivers for gentle floats or white-knuckle rafting — the accommodating hotel team can help craft you an itinerary. For a change of (culinary) scene, there are plenty of places to eat and drink in La Fortuna, a ten-minute drive away, along with shops selling souvenirs and supplies. Price B&B doubles from £470Restaurant mains from £20Family-friendly over-13s onlyAccessible Y Emma Boyle was a guest of Amor Arenal ( • Best places to see wildlife in Costa Rica• More great hotels in Costa Rica
Telegraph
17-06-2025
- Telegraph
The perfect holiday in Santorini, Greece's most romantic island
Favoured by honeymooners from around the world, there's no denying the romance of Santorini 's volcanic crater with its sheer black and red walls rising steeply to a sugar-sprinkling of white villages where blue-domed churches rub shoulders with gourmet restaurants and boutique hotels – many of them carved out of the kanaves that were once used for storing wine. Nourished by volcanic ash from the c.1600 BC eruption that decimated the island's Minoan population, Santorini's fertile soil is used to grow grapes that make inimitable wines, along with sweet cherry tomatoes, unique white aubergines and the yellow split pea fava that star in the island's distinctive dishes. The caldera-side capital Fira, with its shop-lined streets, and Oia's castle sunset spot and are, understandably, the main draw for many travellers. From ancient kalderimi hiking paths to lost-in-the-past hamlets and family-run vineyards, however, Santorini also has another more authentic side that's well worth discovering. For more Santorini inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants, bars, things to do and beaches. How to spend your weekend How to get there and how to get around When to go Where to stay Know before you go How to spend your weekend Day one: morning Pack swimwear and set out before sunrise to explore the top end of the island, stretching from Oia in the north to Akrotiri in the south. From 10am onwards when the cruise hordes arrive, Oia is jam-packed, but in the early morning, the island's famed white village is far more manageable, making it the perfect time to get photos of sunrise spilling its pink-orange glow over the caldera from Oia's celebrated 15th-century castle.
