Solo Sojourn on the Yangtze River

CHINA'S landscapes are vast, its history and monuments epic. Complex and energetic – this is a country which must be experienced at least once in a lifetime. And the Yangtze River, the world’s third longest river at 6,280 kilometres (3,900 miles), is its symbolic lifeline. Flowing from Tibet to Shanghai and cutting through the dramatic mountains of the Yangtze River basin, the river’s fortunes are inextricably entwined with those of the country itself. 

Historically, the Yangtze served as a divider between northern and southern China, a natural barrier against invaders, and a waterway for transport and commerce. Today, the river basin is the country’s heartland, home to 500 million people – a tenth of the world’s population. One of the best ways to experience the #Yangtze is by #boat. And the luxuriously appointed Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer is hard to beat. 

Exploring the very best stretches of this immense waterway, this elegant vessel introduces a new standard of cruising in #China. More intimate and luxurious, with the largest cabins and suites on the river, all with private balconies and floor to ceiling picture windows, as well as the highest crew to passenger ratio on the river of 1:1, the atmosphere is more private club than cruise ship. 

www.sanctuaryretreats.com

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Sought after Caribbean Gem

SITUATED where the western most road ends on Grand Bahama Island, Grande Harbour at Old Bahama Bay Resort is located on one of the most secluded and sought after gems in all the Caribbean, only 56 miles from the Florida shores. 

With a rich history going back hundreds of years, West End exudes allure and intrigue. Going as far back as the Spanish Galleon days to the William "Real" McCoy rum running days, the home of Grande Harbour is one of the most unique international hot spots for fishing, diving, or snorkeling.


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Field to fork detox in Andalucia

AFTER snow, slush and sleet comes spring so take time out and revitalise and rejuvenate mind, body and soul.

Not just a detox diet, but an expert-designed gourmet detox diet based on organic field-to-fork produce paired with tailored private sessions of yoga, meditation and tai chi, as well as massage, spa treatments, invigorating walks, revitalising sleep. Our small group has exclusive use of 1700-acre organic farm and luxurious mountain retreat, La Donaira.

La Donaira offers just 9 individually-designed suites, state of the art facilities including contemporary spa, exquisite shared spaces, open-air pool and gardens, yoga platform and running trails.

From €830/pp (3 days/3 nights) - Close to Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. Easy access from Seville (1hr), Jerez (1hr) and Malaga (1hr 40mins) airports. 

www.ladonaira.com/events

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Retreat to Ireland and run wild

RUN Wild Retreats + Wellness, a travel company providing premier women’s trail running and wellness retreats in five countries, has added #Ireland to its roster of 2018 #retreats. Taking place September 16-22, 2018 founder Elinor Fish will be teaching #trailrunning skills and wellness workshops throughout the itinerary.

Modeled after its popular international retreats in Iceland, Spain, Italy and the U.S., the Ireland Trail Running + Wellness Retreat offers women a week-long immersion in healthy running techniques while exploring the Emerald Isle’s forests, national parks, famous cliffs and moors.

Starting in Dublin, the retreat begins in the trail-running hub of County Wicklow, where they will experience the famous “Wicklow Way” and scenic trails surrounding the town of Glendalough. From there, they head to west to run along the iconic Cliffs of Moher before heading south to County Clare to run trails through the many wonders of Killarney National Park, such as Torc Waterfall and Esknamucky Glen.


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Kids Welcome

ADULTS-only resort in Negril breaks with tradition and welcomes kids. Sunset at the Palms, an all-inclusive resort in Negril, has earned a reputation for being one of the finest adults-only retreats in #Jamaica. The property is also celebrated for its commitment to preserving the natural environment, with guests staying in treehouse-style rooms surrounded by the island nation’s indigenous flora and fauna. 

So we suppose it’s only natural that the resort got a little lesson in the the birds and the bees last month, when its pair of now-famous mascots, Betty and Royal Brown, became the proud parents of a set of bouncing baby goats. 

For more information about this one-of-a-kind resort that caters to adults – and, well, goats visit www.thepalmsjamaica.com

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Yoga in Italy’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

IT'S hard to imagine a more fitting place to which to retreat for a yoga holiday than a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whether it is famed for its aesthetically pleasing landscapes captured by Renaissance painters (as is the case in Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia) or for its distinctive mountains and exceptional natural beauty (as in the Dolomites). Simply being in these unspoilt natural surroundings instils calm, regenerating both the body and mind, which is further intensified through specific yoga exercises. 

Adler Spa Resorts is very fortunate to have hotels in these two Italian locations of note and both are offering yoga retreats in November/December 2017, with Adler Thermae repeating its retreats in February/March 2018. Adler Mountain Lodge is in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites.  Adler Thermae in Tuscany has three yoga holidays planned for November and December, which will then be repeated in February and March 2018. Yoga is an integral part of Adler Spa Resorts’ offering – complimentary classes are offered week in, week out by the in-house team at all the hotels, with dedicated yoga holidays such as those described above taking place at specific times. 

www.adler-resorts.com/en/yoga-retreats-italy

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Inhale and Exhale in the Dominican Republic

YOGA with soft tropical breezes caressing the body while enjoying breathtaking ocean views and surrounded by swaying palm trees, sounds good! The newly built yoga platform at the Samaná Ocean View Eco Lodge, operated by Dominican Expert opened in December 2016, it is a unique, outstanding yoga spot in the #DominicanRepublic. 

The Samaná Ocean View Eco Lodge offers 14 cottages and 7 day #yoga #retreats. Each one features a terrace or floor-to-ceiling-window with amazing views over the Samaná peninsula. The concept of the lodge strives to offer its guests a relaxing holiday in a natural and original Caribbean environment. The Samaná Peninsula offers endless possibilities for excursions and activities. The nearby fishing village, Las Galeras is a perfect place to mingle with the locals and have a refreshing drink. 

Guests can also enjoy a variety of hiking trails in the area, visit the waterfall El Limón, or take a boat trip to the paradisiacal island of Cayo Levantado (also known as Bacardi Island) and during the months of January, February and March you can see humpback whales during their mating season in the Samana Bay, directly visible from the lodge. 

www.dominicanexpert.com

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More choice at Boutique Retreats

BOUTIQUE RETREATS has added three holiday homes to its portfolio: The Rotunda, an apartment in a Hampshire stately home; Pool House, with a heated outdoor swimming pool near Padstow; and Rock View, a family home overlooking the Camel Estuary. 

The Rotunda is in a Grade II listed country house, home to the de Rothschild family. The apartment occupies much of the first floor and is laid out in a circular fashion around a rotunda. There are four bedrooms, all en suite. There over 200 acres of gardens down to the Solent and the Isle of Wight, and there is shared use of a swimming pool and a tennis court. Dog friendly – up to two are welcome. From £2,169 for a long weekend in winter to £4,602 for a week in summer.

Pool House, just outside Padstow, has its own outdoor heated swimming pool, plus three bedrooms, a terrace, and views of the Camel Estuary. Dog friendly – up to two are welcome. From £1,140 for a long weekend in winter to £4,240 for a week in summer.

Dog-friendly Rock View in Padstow has four bedrooms, a fully-enclosed play area for children, and landscaped gardens. From £1,305 for a long weekend in winter to £4,760 for a week in summer

www.boutique-retreats.co.uk.

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Picture Credit: Camel Trail ,Cornwall   Oct 1987 via  /photopin.com

Luxury villa specialist gets £1m funding

EDGE RETREATS, a London-based tech start-up specializing in #luxury villas worldwide, has closed a seed funding round of close to £1 million. 

Launched in 2015, the company says it is the first global curated marketplace for booking both luxury villas and concierge services online. It provides access to the world’s most #exclusive #villarentals – whose owners rarely want to use mass-market products.

The company was founded by travel journalist turned tech entrepreneur, Luke McCormick, who estimates that the value of the luxury villa rentals market will be at least £23 billion by the end of this year. With online travel sales growing at 12% annually, he sees plenty of room for growth.

McCormick says: ‘After getting great support from Forward Partners over the past year, we’re excited to be partnering with Lean Investments to accelerate the growth of our company. This investment will allow us to continue to build a world-class product while increasing the number of properties and countries that we feature.

‘We’re pleased to be simplifying the process of finding and booking luxury villas around the world while offering exceptional concierge service.’

The company currently has more than 2,000 upscale holiday properties in 35 countries from the US to Australia … and some of them are on private islands.

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Hotel boom ahead for Cancun

THE next five years are likely see the addition of 13,000 hotel rooms in #Cancun, says Carlos Gosselin, president of the Hotel Association of Cancun and Puerto Morelos. This represents a 40% increase on the current capacity, with the total number of rooms expected to exceed 45,000 by 2020.

The announcement comes after a recent spate of openings which includes the five star-Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, the 424 room Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort, the kid-friendly Emporio Family Suites Cancun, and the beach-front Hyatt Ziva hotel.

The statement was made as figures reveal that Cancun hotel occupancy rates during the first half of 2015 were at a 93%, a record for the city and higher than any other major Caribbean holiday destination. To meet the demand there are already plenty of new properties and renovations in the planning, and according to Gosselin future developments will need to meet strict sustainability criteria. The most ambitious project already under construction is the 1,800 room all-inclusive Hard Rock Cancun, which is expected to welcome its first guests in 2017.

The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau attributes the growth in hotel demand to a plethora of new attraction openings, increased flight connectivity and to Cancun's growing reputation as a leading #holiday #destination for luxury and quality. The falling value of the Mexican Peso is also helping to fuel the tourism boom meaning holidaymakers have much more cash to splash in Cancun than they did last year.

There has never been a wider choice of accommodation available to suit all tastes and budgets in Cancun. Whether on a family break or on a romantic couples retreat, visitors can always expect outstanding service, first class dinning and value for money. With direct daily flights from London Gatwick and on selected dates from East Midlands, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Stansted, Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports, it has never been easier to connect with Cancun. 

www.cancun.travel 

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Picture Credit: Cancun Pier at Sunset by Joe Parks from Berkeley, CA - Cancun Pier at Sunset. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Cancun-43 by Dronepicr - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons