Wylde World: April News
Report by Leanne Bracey
We just can’t wait for some warmth and sunshine.
Here are our top picks of places to stay and experiences to be had this month.
1: Hotel Hassler, Rome
We love to be right in the heart of Rome when we visit, so next time we’re booking into Hotel Hassler. A superb luxury hotel full of Italian glamour, situated at the top of the Spanish Steps, overlooking the Trevi Fountain. Over the years, the hotel has attracted many famous faces including Audrey Hepburn, who took a hop and a skip here to celebrate her Roman Holiday Oscar win.
If it’s good enough for Hepburn, it’s more than good enough for us. The best spot? A table at the Michelin starred Imago restaurant serves up remarkable Italian food complete with unmissable views over Rome. If you want to woo a loved one, you can’t get any better than this.
Rooms start from €580 per night, based on two people, including breakfast, excluding city tax
2: Borgo Pigano, Tuscany
Tranquility is the keyword for a stay in Tuscany so we’re excited about the reopening of Borgo Pignano. Take an early morning plane to Pisa or Florence, and by lunchtime you can be at this enchanting organic site with some impressive sustainable credentials to its name.
Not only is it jaw-droppingly beautiful, a rest in the 18th century villa also does good for the environment; all the food provided is cultivated on this very land and that’s just for starters. We’ve got our eye on La Canonica, an original 13th century 3-bed house with medieval stonework and frescos. There’s loads to do; horse-riding, a bit of painting with the in-house artist, and relaxing yoga are just some of the many suggestions.
Rooms start from €300 per night in La Villa, including breakfast
3: Mandarin Oriental, Geneva
Not only is the Mandarin Oriental killing it with loads of openings at the beginning of 2019 (Dubai, Doha with Beijing, with Lake Como coming up pretty soon), it also reopens its Knightsbridge doors on April 15th, following a huge refurbishment.
Over in Geneva, we are looking forward to tasting the new Peruvian restaurant Yakumanka; an authentic ceviche dining experience headed up by chef Gaston Acurio. Ceviche is prepared in the open kitchen on a long bar and of course, you have to order some classic Peruvian cocktails to wash it down with.
Try the Taste of Peru experience at The Mandarin from CHF 689 (approx. £590) for a one-night stay for two people including accomodation in a luxury room or suite, 2 course Peruvian dinner and cocktails, breakfast and a copy of head chefs Gastón Acurio’s recipe book to take home.
4: Rosewood Mirimar Beach, California
When pictures of the Rosewood Mirimar Beach dropped into our inbox, we got very excited. The idea of lounging on a beach with impeccable beach service all day, eating farm-to-table food in the evening and trying out some idyllic treks in the Southern Californian sunshine was too much for us to handle.
In the quiet community of Montecito, near Santa Barbara, the Rosewood Mirimar Beach is super-luxury with a fabulous spa, lots of pools to relax by and long relaxing nights in a beachfront guestroom.
5: Visit Illinois, USA
All horizontal living needs to be balanced with a bit of adventure and we’re intrigued by Illinois as a place to explore by canoeing, hiking, zip lining and scuba diving in this state, finishing off with a bit of biking or driving along Route 66.
Our pick would be a canoe trip along the Mississippi River and a scuba dive in Memet Springs. There are great places to stay across the state, such as the Starved Rock Lodge, an eco friendly retreat in 18 acres of forest, the Makanda Inn and Cottages to a treehouse at timber ridge outpost.
For more information on Illinois and to view the accommodation, visit the website.
6: Barsham Barns, UK
For something closer to home, you can’t beat a spring weekend in Norfolk. We love the vast beaches at Holkham for dog walking and the array of brilliant pubs for cosying up in (The Gunton Arms is a particular favorite) so we were happy to see Barsham Barns have 6 barns, converted into luxury stays by architect Anthony Hudson, each one different in interior design. Great for groups thanks to the ample entertaining space, there’s also plenty of opportunities for outdoor living and it’s brilliant for children.