Come August, sultry summer days lead into balmy nights — and we’re going to tell you where you should spend those nights. This month the Mr & Mrs Smith team has been taken with a lakeside retreat in Slovenia’s Alps, a sun-drenched motel in New Mexico, a Mallorcan olive mill-slash-culinary retreat and even a couple of low-season stays in Australia. Read on for your latest batch of holiday inspiration.
Milka Boutique Hotel
Slovenia
If, like me, you read Milka and immediately think of the Swiss chocolate of the same name, prepare for a different, more all-natural experience at this Slovenian retreat. It has the kind of mountainous setting, by a so-clear-you-can-see-to-the-bottom lake, that speaks of cows with bells, bouquets garnis piled in straw baskets and line-caught fish. Look at the hotel’s Michelin-recognised menu — offering brown trout with geranium, deer with dandelion and more — and you’ll see it’s pretty much the truth, albeit with a more modern vision, much like Milka’s chic, sustainable cabin styling. Written large in the landscape is adventure, too, from paragliding and white-water rafting to treks to high plateaus. Sweet, but not like chocolate.
Don’t miss The summer pursuits of the Julian Alps, like the toboggan run at the Planica Nordic Centre or navigating Lake Jasna’s hot-cold Kneipp Path, complete with foot-massaging stones.
Kate Weir, Deputy Editor
Dunluce Lodge
Northern Ireland
Along the Causeway Coast, waves come at cliffs with the emotional fury of a Seamus Heaney poem. They may be restless, but for guests at Dunluce Lodge still waters run deep, thanks to comfy suites dressed in leather, wood and wool, and spa rituals inspired by the sea. I’ve found myself enthralled by the lyrical beauty of the surrounding landscape, and will certainly wax more on it after seeing the mystical stones of the Giant’s Causeway, crossing the Carrick a Rede rope bridge, and learning how to freedive in the brisk waters; and will likely do so even more emphatically after a tasting at the nearby Bushmills Distillery or sampling the wealth of whiskeys in The Vault bar. If anywhere deserves a hearty ‘Sláinte’, it’s this luxurious lodge.
Don’t miss There’s a frequent flow of things to do throughout August in the region: treasure hunts and parades at Heart of the Glens Festival in Cushendall (2nd–10th); artisan markets in Ballycastle (3th and 17th); chocolate-making workshops at Castelrock’s Chocolate Manor (7th and 23th); and gigs each weekend at The Bushmills Inn.
KW
Hotel Willa
New Mexico, US
Even if your drawing ability peaks, as mine does, with stick men, the artistic colony of Taos in New Mexico will embrace you. At Hotel Willa, a historic hacienda has been blended and buffed to perfection, with a palette of terracotta, walnut woods, dusky pinks and earthy reds. The roadside sign bids you to ‘get lost and found with us’ — and with a community spirit this strong, it won’t take long for the sense of renewal to set in. Away from the easel, guests can wander through the organic gardens, get contemplative by the pool, and seek inspiration from the displayed artworks by local creatives or the mighty Sangre de Cristo Mountains. You’ll have the paintbrushes (or stick-men-friendly pencils) out in no time.
Don’t miss Taos Plaza Live wraps up its weekly series of gigs (held every Thursday since June) on the 7th. The summer’s final Movie on the Green takes place in Kit Carson Park at dusk on 6 August.
Caroline Lewis, Senior Associate Editor
Capella Taipei
Taiwan
Taiwan is the archetype of small but mighty — an industrial player on the international stage with a tangible pride among its citizens sprung from its maritime heritage and melting-pot Asian culture. I visited its capital Taipei in the Noughties and was captivated by its originality: its sleek skyscrapers juxtaposed against pockets of tradition conjure comparisons with Hong Kong, but its geography is entirely different, set in a vast basin, edged by jungle-carpeted mountains.
Base yourself at Capella Taipei: this new-to-Smith luxury hotel is a destination stay with restful, contemporary suites, a skyline pool, choice of dining spots and tai chi a casa. But it’s not just the hotel’s raft of modern comforts that won us over: its location in Songshan with MRT links means you can be whisked with ease to its night market at Shilin, to Taipei 101, Elephant Hill and all other entries on your Taiwanese hitlist with ease.
Don’t miss Taipei residents don’t let high temperatures and rain showers stand in the way of their Summer Festival, held at Dadaocheng Wharf between 6 and 30 August: it’ll take you back in time to the city before the skyscrapers, with its food stalls and artisanal markets. Book for Wednesday nights for the wow of the 8pm fireworks.
Charlotte Heyman, Regional Manager, APAC Partnerships
The Sanctuary at Alba
Victoria, Australia
A lot of the focus at the Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is what’s going on underground. Namely, the geothermal aquifers about half a kilometre below Mornington Peninsula, whose warm, mineral-rich waters draw winter wellness aficionados here from Melbourne and beyond. But I’m just as interested in what’s going on above ground; in particular, the spa’s five gorgeously appointed villas peeping above the canopy of the surrounding native bushland.
Each villa is in keeping with the spa’s concrete, minimalist design, with muted tones that blend artfully with coastal dunes and native flora. Plus there’s Thyme restaurant, where seasonal local dishes are served and all-day dining in robes is encouraged, making it easier than ever to soak all day at the salt baths, cold plunges, herbal-infused botanical pools and unique, sunset-facing ‘Eve’ pool before retiring to your own serene space… and doing it all over again in the morning.
Don’t miss Running every day (10am to 5pm) until the end of August, the Sorrento Art Prize Exhibition is a 15-minute drive from Alba at Sorrento’s &Gallery. There are works on display by 60 finalists, spanning contemporary painting, sculpture and mixed media; take part in artist talks, forums and other creative get-togethers.
Martin Dickie, UX and Production Editor
Il Delfino
Yamba, Australia
I love Euro Summer as much as the next person, but the Continent’s recent heatwave has left me sleepy, dehydrated and more prawn-y pink than beautifully bronzed. That’s why this August I’m inclined to — in the words of Missy Elliot — flip it and reverse it by seeing the season out Down Under. Yamba, a postcard-pretty beach town in New South Wales, where August weather rarely climbs past a comfortable 21 degrees fits the bill.
Here, ocean-gazing guesthouse Il Delfino brings a touch of Italian Riviera living to ‘Straya’s’ east coast with its mid-century-style suites, each named after Italian towns or regions (Ischia, Portofino, Ravello) and styled with vintage finds and works by local artists. Spend days spotting dolphins, surfing or sipping sundowners from the lido terrace without breaking a sweat. G’dolce vita, mate.
Don’t miss Just a 20-minute drive from Yamba, the Northern Rivers Brewers Festival kicks off on Saturday 23 August, in the neighbouring community of Townsend. As the inaugural celebration of the region’s independent breweries, expect a day filled with local beers, live music and street food from an alfresco kitchen.
Stephanie Gavan, Associate Editor
Villa Porto Rapallo
Riviera di Levante, Italy
It would be perfectly understandable to believe that Rapallo existed in a state of perpetual summer. The Ligurian seaside town has all the hallmarks of the Italian Riviera: brightly painted fishermen’s houses, a palm-studded promenade and a string of waterfront bars and cafés that almost beseech you to pause, take a pew and bask in the sun, spritz in hand. With Villa Porto Rapallo on the scene, working that into your daily routine is closer than you might think. Overlooking the marina, this set of serviced apartments is perfect for those who like to go their own way, with sprawling living areas and tricked-out kitchens primed for whipping up Ligurian feasts. The on-call concierge can take care of all the finer details, such as arranging a private chef, boat trips to Portofino, wine tastings and painting lessons with the artist-in-residence.
Don’t miss On 15 August, Italians take the day off for Ferragosto, a public holiday that dates back to Roman times. During, the population of coastal towns often swells dramatically, so take the opportunity to tour the coast on Green Boat’s glamorous, timber-decked vessel, available for daily charters.
Hamish Roy, Senior Associate Editor
Treurer Olive Grove & Grand House
Mallorca, Spain
I’m a fan of an agriturismo, and there’s no better time to get stuck in than late summer. Come August in Mallorca, the crops have been swelling under the sun for months and the focus is on the coming harvest. It’s the prime time to be at this 16th-century country estate near Algaida, a rural region just 30 minutes from Palma. You’ll bed down in the eight-room finca, where the stone-walled suites overlook some 3,000 olive trees (premium oils are the estate’s speciality), the pine-tree-clad Cura and Randa hills. You’ll have ample opportunities to get hands on with the olive-oil production process, an activity best chased with a traditional Mallorcan cooking class, where you’ll get to pair the fruits of your labour with quaffable wines from the local region.
Don’t miss Mallorca’s cultural calendar is packed in August. It begins with La Patrona (2 August), held in the town of Pollença, where locals dress up to reenact a historic battle between the Moors and Christians. The Assumption of Mary Festival is celebrated with special masses, processions and traditional Mallorcan music and dancing on the 15th; and the St Bartholomew Festival, in Capdepera, gets going on 24 August and runs for eight days, culminating in the spectacularly pyrotechnic Nit de Foc (Night of Fire).
HR
Keep some space in your calendar for our new arrivals