i-escape.com

21/08/2024

If you're looking for a base from which to tour all of Tuscany and Umbria, but equally somewhere you could sit and do very little for days on end, this is it.

From the pine-shaded car park, the tall terracotta villa with pale blue shutters, stone balustrades and flower-filled amphorae feels quintessentially Tuscan. But step in through the French windows and you'll find clean, crisp living spaces with Starck and Jacobsen furnishings and exuberant artworks. We loved the buzzy sociable atmosphere, with communal lunches and twice-weekly dinner parties. Or gather friends to have the whole place to yourselves, securing free reign of the pool, tennis courts and manicured grounds.

📍 Fontelunga, Tuscany, Italy

Book now: www.i-escape.com/fontelunga

20/08/2024

Our newest addition in Mallorca is this handsome 17th-century mansion in Palma’s historic heart, with beautifully restored rooms and a sunny rooftop terrace, where views of the cathedral on one side and the Arab Baths garden on the other are a reminder of this oh-so-privileged Old Town address.

📍 Portella, Mallorca, Spain

Book now: www.i-escape.com/portella

19/08/2024

Our latest find is this light and airy open-plan suite in Rovinj, one of Croatia's loveliest seaside destinations. The romantic old town on Istria's west coast is a huddle of pastel-coloured Venetian-era buildings, overlooked by a hilltop church. Its sheltered fishing harbour is rimmed by seafood eateries, while steep cobbled alleys leading up to the church reveal galleries, boutiques and antique shops.

The unique bolthole for two is filled with antiques and contemporary artworks; big bold canvases and ceramic plates with playful Matisse-like line drawings, the smaller paintings in ornate Montparnasse frames, and huge vases of extravagant fresh flowers are all the work of co-owner, Croatian florist and artist, Saša Šekoranje.

📍 The Artist's Suite, Rovinj, Croatia
🛏 Sleeps 2

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/the-artists-suite

18/08/2024

Sometimes, all you want is sunshine, sandy toes and a flow of tropical cocktails. This is just the place, gazing over two sandy beaches and sun-sizzled Aegean sea. Set in the southwest of Mykonos, where the pace is slower, the coast is quieter, and the vibe is infectiously laid-back.

The hotel is small and intimate. Staff get to know you on a first name basis, and service is bespoke. The rooms are built in classical Cycladic style – think whitewashed sugar-cube design – but the interiors are ultra-modern. This is exactly the sort of Greek island escape we’ve been longing for. Race you back there.

📍 Osom Resort, Mykonos, Greece

Book now: www.i-escape.com/osom-resort

16/08/2024

Our Head of Marketing, Ben, recently returned from a visit to Marrakech, where he stayed in this welcoming riad. Just a stone’s throw from the bustling Jemaa el Fna, expect a bang-central location with bold interiors, affordable prices, a lovely roof terrace, and a peaceful vibe which feels far removed from city life.

Experience Moroccan breakfasts and a true taste of local life. Perfect for those seeking budget-friendly comfort without compromising on character.

📍 Riad 11 Zitoune, Marrakech, Morocco

Book now: www.i-escape.com/riad-11-zitoune

15/08/2024

Set among vineyards, olive groves and rolling countryside, this sprawling chateau, just outside Carcassonne, is perfect for those who like a little medieval grandeur with their modern comforts.

Inside, the chateau is fabulously baroque with a double-rounded stairway, gothic vaults, turrets, and cellars – while outside there are landscaped gardens, a private vineyard, an orchard, a Roman spring, even a converted chapel. But there are plenty of 21st-century features to enjoy too: a large infinity pool and sun terrace with panoramic views across the lush valley, tennis courts, and a romantic onsite restaurant.

📍 Chateau Villarlong, near Carcassonne, France

Book now: www.i-escape.com/chateau-villarlong

14/08/2024

Upon arrival at Symi’s pastel-hued harbour, head past the glitzy yachts and ritzy restaurants, up some well-worn steps and winding alleys, until you find this quietly opulent hotel combining contemporary pleasures (percale linens, rain showers) with original features (flagstone floors, stone arches).

The hotel is set on the old market, where sponges, spices, and silver were traded from 1884. Although a listed monument, the market had lain in ruins since it was bombed in 1944, though after 5 years of painstaking restoration by the owners, the elegantly restored hotel emerged from the rubble.

📍 The Old Markets, Symi, Greece

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/the-old-markets

13/08/2024

We all know and love Tuscany and the Spanish Costas. But what about the places hidden in their shadows? Head to these secret destinations in Europe and you’ll find familiar charm somewhere completely new – plus fewer crowds, more affordable prices and some gorgeous places to stay.

www.i-escape.com/blog/secret-destinations-europe/

12/08/2024

We love this quirky, cosy riad hidden deep within Essaouira’s medina. Inside you’ll find shelves laden with stacks of books, walls dotted with quirky ceramics and strings of shells, and tiled floors covered in colourful striped rugs. There are 3 apartment suites arranged around a central colonnaded courtyard, all with kitchens, sitting areas and super-comfy beds.

If you’re after a super-smart, slick hotel then stay away; if you want an intimate hideaway with a warm welcome, rates that won’t scare your bank manager, and don't mind speaking a bit of French, then you’ll love it.

📍 Dar Lazuli, Essaouira, Morocco

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/dar-lazuli

11/08/2024

On one of Greece’s smallest & prettiest islands, Folegandros, you'll find these two simple but perfectly restored Cycladic cottages. Expect cool rustic-chic interiors, stone-and-beam ceilings, micro-cement floors, tasteful wood and wicker furnishings and a few pop-art touches.

This is a place to disconnect and unwind. Come for a lazy, sunny week of beach hikes, boat rides, al fresco meals, and a back-to-nature island lifestyle. We can't wait to visit!

📍 The Folegandros Hideaways, Folegandros, Greece
🛏️ Two cottages - one for 2-4 and one for 2-3

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/the-folegandros-hideaways

09/08/2024

Corsica is an island of mountains and, while most tourists stick to the coast to roast away on those magical beaches, this is where to come if you want to discover the Corsican soul.

This cool little hotel in the village of Bastelica allows you to explore in comfort. It mixes hip design with old-fashioned mountain simplicity. Walls of glass ensure you never lose the view, and beds are slotted into bay windows that frame the mighty mountains. There's a splendid restaurant serving fresh & local produce, a lovely garden and a plunge pool. Scale a peak, spot the sea below, then drop down to Ajaccio for a swim. There are ski slopes up the road, too.

📍Hotel Artemisia, Corsica, France

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/hotel-artemisia

08/08/2024

Alice from our editorial team loved this cosy houseboat in London's pretty Little Venice. This neighbourhood is only a few streets from the bustle of Paddington but feels a world away with its picturesque canal, riverfront cafes and long-standing, laid-back community of boat folk.

On board the slate-grey wide beam boat, laden with potted plants, you'll find an open-plan stern containing a well-equipped kitchen and stylish lounge; move to the bow to find the cosiest, comfiest bedroom for two. Relax on the roof deck, light the firepit, nod to your neighbours and watch the ducks paddle past. The air here feels fresher, the sounds take on a more natural tune, and the pace of life never exceeds 4 knots.

📍 Little Venice Houseboat, London, UK

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/little-venice-houseboat

07/08/2024

If you're after a late-season escape to Greece look no further. This gorgeous hideaway set above the pretty fishing harbour of Kini on western Syros is open until the end of October with some special offers and free nights available.

Wonderful owner, Terezdina, gives this 6-room retreat a really personal touch; it feels just like staying with friends. Expect picture-perfect Greece: a turquoise bay bobbing with fishing boats, a sandy beach with a couple of table-in-the-sand tavernas, views of rugged hills and island-studded horizon, a glistening azure pool flanked by oversized lanterns and inviting daybeds. The sun shines, there are boat trips to secluded coves, fresh grilled fish at dinner, and freshly squeezed OJ at breakfast. It's textbook summer holiday stuff - we're pretty tempted ourselves!

📍 Pino Di Loto, Syros, Greece

Check out the special offers and book this island hideaway: www.i-escape.com/pino-di-loto

06/08/2024

Ben, from our bookings team, stayed at this "incredibly affordable, low-key hotel" while visiting Fes. Here's what he had to say about it:

"Packed with all the Moroccan character you would expect, rooms provide a sense of history, there’s a great roof terrace and the food is amazing. Our lamb, prune and almond tagine was outstanding; melt-in-the-mouth, fall-off-the-bone stuff in rich, sweet, sticky juices. It’s also in an easy-to-reach part of the Medina (do not underestimate this!).

Merieme, the Manager, was a star; utterly charming and a gold mine of knowledge, just as comfortable offering advice on local £2 hammams and buses as high-end spas and private drivers. It felt very 'Fes' in that wonderfully unpretentious way."

📍 Riad Tizwa, Fes, Morocco

Book your stay: www.i-escape.com/riad-tizwa

05/08/2024

We're dying to visit our latest find in Chile’s Atacama desert: a holistic eco-retreat and haven for exploration and relaxation, with the best stargazing on the planet.

The hotel is a fusion of the contemporary and the traditional, with its lodgings beautifully decorated in earthy tones and featuring stonework, tapestries, ceramics, and furniture sourced from regional artisans. There's a wellness area offering everything from sound baths and massages to meditation and sweat lodges. Daily activities are designed to encompass art, culture, learning and food. And once you have unplugged and detoxed, the site becomes a base camp from which to explore and experience the jaw-dropping landscape which is one of the driest on earth – hiking, mountain biking, sandboarding and guided excursions are just a few of the choices on offer.

📍 Our Habitas Atacama, Atacama Desert, Chile

Book now: www.i-escape.com/our-habitas-atacama

02/08/2024

Our Editor, Lucy, recently visited this plush design hotel in a quiet valley in northern Mallorca. Here's what she thought:

"The hotel blew me away. Set in a former monastery in a rural spot near Pollensa and the Tramuntana mountains, it’s tantalisingly tranquil. The hub of the hotel is the pool, flanked by the bar and two restaurants – a formal one for tasting menus, and a bistro for more casual fare. Down in the terraced gardens there’s a smart spa and some two-bedroom Villa Suites, cleverly built to blend into the wild landscape, for minimal impact on the environment.

Pretty Pollensa is a 5-minute drive away. We spent a leisurely morning wandering the boutique shops and climbing the Via Crucis steps up to Calvari chapel, which has excellent views over town to the bay. I also loved our day following the winding mountain road to Soller, which weaves around lakes, forests and cute towns."

📍 Son Brull, Mallorca, Spain

Book now: www.i-escape.com/son-brull-hotel-and-spa

01/08/2024

These luxury cabins are our latest find in Sweden, set in a 400-hectare nature reserve just an hour from the bustle of Stockholm. This place is all about tranquillity, connection and sustainability. Each cabin has been carefully designed to be simple but comfortable, with pared-back interiors allowing the beauty outside to be the star of the show. You'll feel the rest of the world melt away when you're gazing out through floor-length windows at lush forest on all sides.

Cool and airy in spring and summer, you'll spend your days hiking or biking among its natural wonders, or swimming in the sparkling cold water of nearby lakes, or taking a kayak or boat to the many neighbouring islands. Or, cosy up warm with fires and stunning winterscapes in darker months. This is a stunning retreat into nature whatever the time of year.

📍 Landet, near Stockholm, Sweden

Book now: www.i-escape.com/landet

31/07/2024

Once the site of a working farm, these old stone stables have been reincarnated as 7 cosy cottages, each one lovingly designed. You'll spend your days here walking the coast path, spotting wildlife, discovering hidden bays and strolling through tiny towns. As evening sets in there's the hot tub and sauna for some private R&R.

This place is remote, but the payoff for veering away from the beaten track is an unrivalled beauty, undisturbed quiet and just a hint of smugness at unearthing a true hidden gem.

📍 Cwm Connell, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/cwm-connell

30/07/2024

In this peaceful Wiltshire village you'll find a gastropub with outstanding food, coupled with luxe rooms and true peace. The bedrooms are located a 2-minute walk from the pub, in a gloriously quiet spot overlooking the River Avon; each one is enormous, complete with private terraces. The setting is about as beautiful as our British countryside gets, with pleasant walks and trout fishing from the doorstep, and heritage sites a stones throw away.

You'll get the charm of a proper rural pub, along with food that absolutely wows and a great night's sleep. If you're looking for a romantic country bolthole to treat yourselves, we can think of nowhere better.

📍 Red Lion, Wiltshire, UK

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/red-lion

29/07/2024

This former cortijo turned remote rural retreat is a quintessential vision of Andalucia: undulating olive groves, limestone outcrops topped by Arab watchtowers, eagles wheeling overhead and that glorious sense of space.

Inside, things feel big and airy, with a spectacular double-height stairwell leading up to the 6 simple, stylish and surprisingly affordable bedrooms. It's a perfect base for escapism.

📍 Casa Olea, Andalucia, Spain

Find out more via the link in our bio

29/07/2024

Kate, our head of reservations, recently took her youngest son (10 years old) and father to northern Portugal, starting in Porto and then travelling the course of the Douro and up into the Minho. It’s not a well-known area for a family holiday, but they found it delighted all three generations – which is no mean feat! For an outdoorsy break with friendly places to stay and quiet countryside to explore, northern Portugal is a winner.

Our Head of Reservations, Kate, took her youngest son and father to northern Portugal, starting in Porto and then travelling the course of the Douro and up into the Minho. For an outdoorsy break with friendly places to stay and quiet countryside to explore, it was a winner.

28/07/2024

During his trip to Fes, Bookings Consultant, Ben, holed up at a few of our handpicked hotels, which included a return visit to one of his personal favourites:

"The whole place looks as fresh and jaw-dropping as it did 10 years ago – the scale of the inner courtyard and magnificent pillars, the sympathetic renovation and pared-back, almost monastic simplicity of some of the rooms (except ours which was fit for a king). There’s no modern art or funky furniture; they’ve honoured the authenticity.

I still rate the roof terrace as one of my favourite places anywhere; being surrounded by Fes medina and all the sights, smells and sounds is utterly intoxicating. The food is amazing and served up communal-style amongst guests (although you can have a private table if you prefer). Kate and Alaa are the most incredible hosts; it’s all very unpretentious and relaxed. You really do feel like it’s your home. A great one for solo travellers."

📍 Dar Seffarine, Fes, Morocco

Book now: www.i-escape.com/dar-seffarine

26/07/2024

Clinging to the cliff face in a hidden corner of Lake Atitlán, this luxurious eco-lodge, a curious stone and thatch construction only accessible by water, sits in marked contrast with the backpacker guesthouses normally found around the lake.

This is the perfect spot for romancing couples who will enjoy lazing in the outdoor pool at the water’s edge and dining on candlelit terraces. Nature lovers and twitchers will be in their element, too, as the private reserve on which the lodge sits is home to rare belted flycatchers, blue-throated motmots and other colourful birds.

📍 Laguna Lodge, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Book now: www.i-escape.com/lake-atitlan-hideaway-houses

25/07/2024

This hotel is surprisingly down-to-earth for its swanky SW1 postcode. There's a lovely welcoming vibe; you feel right at home from the get-go, family-run with flair and care for the last 30 years, as all who stay here testify. You're warmly welcomed, the interiors showcase understated chic, the traditional breakfasts are hearty, and rooms are well-priced. The neighbourhood is largely residential with a village feel, and you're in a sweet spot for accessing eateries, transport, shopping and sights. A real gem.

📍 Lime Tree, Belgravia, London

Book now: www.i-escape.com/lime-tree-hotel

24/07/2024

Around 30 minutes from Nice, this upmarket B&B has views up to the hills and over the chasm of the valley below. There are only 4 guest rooms; 3 in the house and a glamping tent in the grounds. It’s peaceful and romantic – ideal for couples in search of serenity.

The location is fantastic, a short hop from countless pretty Provençal villages as well as the Gorges du Loup, a dramatic gorge that’s great for riverside walks and swimming in crystalline pools. And if you want to sample the beaches and glitzy towns of the French Riviera, you're only a short drive from Cannes or Nice.

📍 L'Escale du Ciel, Cote d'Azur, France

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/lescale-du-ciel

24/07/2024

As we embark upon our glorious summer holidays, the canny amongst you will already have your October half-term sorted. For those yet to decide where to go, here are five great suggestions for a brilliant autumn family holiday abroad.

Yet to book your family holiday for October half term 2022? We've rounded up five of the best wallet-friendly half-term options in Europe and beyond.

23/07/2024

This eco-chic retreat and private nature reserve makes a great stop-off between Cape Town and the Garden Route. The renovated homestead is made up of two modern farmhouses and a trio of freestanding cabins, set in the heart of a vast expanse of unspoilt fynbos heath. Couples will adore the latter, oozing with stylish simplicity while the reserve takes centre stage.

There's an incredible sense of space, wilderness and tranquility here, yet you're only a 2.5-hour drive from Cape Town.

📍 Farm 215, near Gansbaai, South Africa
🛏 Farmhouse sleeps 4-8, one cabin for 2 and another for up to 4

Book now: www.i-escape.com/farm-215

22/07/2024

This classy Funchal retreat has managed to curate a delectable environment of casual refinement and old-world glamour. Unwind with sumptuous treatments in the spa, eat exquisite food, explore acres of tropical gardens or read books by the heated outdoor pool.

This is the kind of elusive retreat where you can vanish entirely from the clamour of daily life - yet should you want it, the fun of Funchal is just a 15-minute walk away, beyond the high, ivy-clad walls.

📍 Quinta da Casa Branca, Madeira, Portugal

Book now: www.i-escape.com/quinta-da-casa-branca

22/07/2024

Our editor, Lucy, just got back from a trip to Mallorca. Being six months pregnant, all she wanted from this holiday was maximum pampering. They chose to lap up some swish adult-only hotels while they still could, finding secluded pockets where luxury and tranquillity go hand in hand. The island’s scenery is spectacular, and once you get away from the busy coasts it’s a different world – no overtourism issues here. The interior is where to go for quiet, understated style in Mallorca – perfect babymoon material!

Our Editor, Lucy, chose to lap up some swish adult-only hotels in Mallorca, finding secluded pockets where luxury and tranquillity go hand in hand. Here’s where to go for quiet, understated style - perfect babymoon or honeymoon material!

21/07/2024

Check out this tranquil yoga and wellness retreat set in a hidden pocket of Sri Lanka, away from the tourist trail. It's stylish, serene and artfully simple. Hiking, biking and wild swimming are all encouraged. As is total chilling. A perfect 2-3 night breather in a busy itinerary.

📍 Rukgala, near Kandy, Si Lanka

Find out more: www.i-escape.com/rukgala-retreat