Travel
Flights Of Fancy
Could there be anything more alluring than escaping everyday life on a trip made for two? Whether you’re in the first throes of passion or rekindling your relationship, climb aboard with Collagerie as we whisk you away to hotels where romance reigns.
Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
The Mood
Embrace your inner duchess as you cruise towards the private dock of this 18th- century villa on the shores of Lake Como. Boasting frescoed walls, Murano-glass chandeliers and sumptuous suites decked in Venetian silk and damask, it’s tempting spend hours lounging in your splendid bed, rising only to drink in the heavenly views.
The Food
From round-the-clock room service to lunch and dinner in the hotel’s restaurant whatever time you like, “no” is not a word in the Passalacqua dictionary. Homegrown dishes are a delight, but for sheer romance, a rose-garden breakfast starts the day on a dreamy note.
Memories Are Made Of This...
Slip away like secret lovers. Ancient tunnels that lie beneath the hotel will lead you to the marina, where Beppe the boatman will be waiting to sail you into the sunset.
Awasi Patagonia, Chile
The Mood
Scattered around the edges of Torres del Paine national park, the pared-back simplicity of Awasi’s box-like wood cabins belies the luxury that lies within. Crackling fires, sheepskin rugs, outdoor hot tubs and huge windows capturing the staggering beauty of the wild, mountainous landscape.
The Food
The hotel is carbon-neutral and its focus on sustainability means the chef uses as much locally sourced produce as possible, including meat from nearby herds and huge mounds of guacamole.
Memories Are Made Of This...
Each guest is appointed their own private guide to plan excursions across the national park. For sheer romance, take a catamaran across Lake Pekoe to view the Valle de Francés, a natural amphitheatre cut from sheer cliffs, hanging glaciers and dramatic rock formations (surely the unforgettable destination for an unforgettable marriage proposal).
Hotel Rochechouart, Paris, France
The Mood
Sitting in the heart of the Pigalle, the centre of Parisian nightlife for over a century, this exquisite escape offers a luxe take on its art deco roots. Inside, original features mix with the modern details in a palette of decadent chocolate hues, creating a lavish bolthole from which to explore the area’s buzzing bars.
The Food
Hotel Rochechouart’s house restaurant couldn’t be more French, offering classic seafood and steaks in a sumptuous setting replete with deco details. The food is fine, the people-watching, a delight!
Memories Are Made Of This...
Drink in the City of Love from the Rochechouart’s romantic rooftop bar, which boats a spectacular 360° view of Paris. Then head out for a night of Pigalle passion, starting at Dirty Dick – officially one of the world’s best watering holes – and ending at Sister Midnight, a jewel-box of a burlesque bar.
Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia
The Mood
Stupendously serene, Song Saa’s eco-luxe escape is a long way from basic backpacking. Set across two pristine locations in the Koh Rong Islands, thatch and stone villas are perched atop the jungle canopy, dotted beside white sands or over crystal-clear waters. Traditional decor conceals all mod cons and each villa has it’s own plunge pool.
The Food
Sustainability is central to the Song Saa mindset, with an on-site chef’s garden and ocean-to-table ethos. The menu at the Vista Overwater Restaurant champions local ingredients and Khmer flavours in its spectacular seafood offering.
Memories Are Made Of This...
Hop into a nighttime speedboat and head out to sea for the breathtaking bioluminescence swim in the ocean’s glowing waters. Back on shore, enjoy a private stargazing session, where your host will guide you through the constellations in dazzling style.
Finca Serena, Mallorca
The Mood
Elegantly understated interiors set a chic counterpoint to the bucolic surroundings of this romantic, rambling estate. Nestle away from the world in one if the secluded, standalone suites scattered across the hotel’s arcadain acreage.
The Food
Serving produce from its organic vegetable gardens, hotel restaurant The Jacaranda changes its menu daily to reflect the seasonal fare. Take a table on the fairy-light- strewn terrace and gaze across the glorious Mallorca plains – if you can tear your eyes from each other, that is.
Memories Are Made Of This...
Head out on Andalusian horseback for a romantic roam through the campo, winding your way through olive groves, oak forests and almond fields before stopping off at a local vineyard for a restorative glass or two.
Verride Palácio Santa Catarina, Lisbon, Portugal
The Mood
Enter this historic townhouse and the exquisite interiors will take your breath away. Rooms range from cool and cutting-edge to richly romantic. Our favourite? The Royal Suite: with its creamy rococo stuccos and silk panels, it’s as whimsical as a wedding cake, while the traditionally tiled bathroom is sheer indulgence.
The Food
Blending Portuguese and Mediterranean influences, the fusion food at Suba, Verride Palácio’s restaurant, is as delightful as the elegant modern decor. Best of all, the huge picture windows capture unforgettable views of the old town, the river and spectacular Vasco da Gama bridge.
Memories Are Made Of This...
Fashion lovers will thrill to the delights on show at MUDE, Lisbon’s celebrated museum of style and design – a prelude perhaps to a romantic shopping trip throughout the city’s boutiques.
The Retreat At Blue Lagoon, Iceland
The Mood
A location like no other, this chic escape is carved into an 800-year-old lava field, and despite being only a hour from Reykjavik, the lunar landscape is rugged and otherworldly. Inside, a tranquil Scandi aesthetic of warm woods and pale leathers offers a serene contrast to the bright blue of the lagoon itself.
The Food
Icelandic dishes are the order of the day at Moss, the hotel’s open-kitchen restaurant, where every ingredient can be traced back to its origins in the mountains, farms and spring waters of the locale.
Memories Are Made Of This...
Those seeking wellness with their romantic getaway need not leave the hotel. With everything from hot-stone massages and salt rubs, to the restorative mineral-rich waters of the lagoon itself, the Retreat Spa will leave you blissfully, beatifically relaxed.
Hotel Esencia, Mexico
The Mood
Set on the Mayan Riviera’s most beautiful beach, and surrounded by a 30-acre estate, this collection of stylish suites and villas delivers the ultimate in barefoot luxe. Think miles and miles of pure white sands, a spa offering indigenous temazcal treatments, and complimentary tequila in your room. What’s not to love?
The Food
Snack at the poolside restaurant by day, and by night take your pick from the hotel’s delicious evening duo. Rustic-meets-fine-dining decor at the Garden Restaurant sets the scene for regional cuisine with a Mediterranean spin. Meanwhile, Mistura offers a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavours, with the best ingredients the Yucatan peninsula has to offer.
Memories Are Made Of This...
Just half an hour from the hotel lie the ruins of Tulum, the 13th-century Mayan clifftop city. This is a must-visit, not only for extraordinary excavated temples but also the Caribbean beach that lies below, where a refreshing swim is heaven after a morning spent climbing those ancient steps.
Monteverdi, Tuscany, Italy
The Mood
More than a mere hotel, the Monteverdi is part of a picturesque medieval hamlet – all cobbled streets, sprawling gardens, pale stone buildings and endless Val D’Orcia views. Inside, the rooms have a rural romance – think wood beams and plaster-wash walls – with surprise pops of colour and industrial furnishings conjuring a city-meets- country chic.
The Food
Spices, herbs and vegetables are gathered straight from the gardens to enhance chef Giancarla Bodoni’s farm-to-table Tuscan cuisine at Oreade, the hotel’s acclaimed eatery.
Memories Are Made Of This...
Take a sunset trip to Il Chiostro in nearby Sarteano, and eat among the classical pillars of the 15th-century Palazzo Cennini, where dinner within the cloister becomes a near religious experience.
Boheme Mykonos, Greece
The Mood
A delicious blend of the classic (traditional Greek whitewashed walls) – and the contemporary (an understated interior aesthetic with splashes of primary colour and playfully sculptural lighting). The mood is breezy and boho; the view an endless vista of sparkling turquoise waters.
The Food
Simple wooden chairs and concrete benches piled with squishy cushions create the perfect setting for modern Mediterranean dishes, served on the hotel’s open-air terrace as you gaze out across the Agean.
Memories Are Made Of This...
If you take your romance with a touch of raucous revelry, Mykonos is the place for you. Famed for its wild nightlife, the quaint winding alleyways of Mykonos Town (a 10-minute stroll from the hotel) give way to boisterous bars come evening, while Cavo (the island’s mega-club) is open from midnight till mid morning.
