Erdem Moralioglu, designer – Il San Pietro, Positano
“Not only does Il San Pietro have wonderful views as far as the Faraglioni, off the coast of Capri, this beautiful hotel carved into the rocks also has a secret lift on the mountainside. I feel like I have stepped into the 1960s when I take that ride.” www.ilsanpietro.it
Emilia Fox, actress – The Surrey Hotel, New York
“New York’s top secret, The Surrey Hotel is a very satisfying discovery with its superb Upper East Side location, luxurious rooms, delicious food, relaxing spa, and the best cocktails in town. This is a getaway for a lost weekend or, if you want to share it with family, they are very welcoming to children, too.” www.thesurrey.com
Amanda Harlech, creative consultant – Barthélemy, Paris
“When I walked into this cheese shop on the Rue de Grenelle in Paris, I was greeted with bonjour and friendly smiles from young men wearing aprons, who expertly helped me choose the lightest goat’s cheese from a bewildering array of fromages.” Tel: +33 142 22 82 24
Alice Temperley, designer – Cuixmala, Mexico
“I prefer peace and quiet in the wilderness. My ultimate luxury is to be at one with my surroundings, so for me, paradise on Earth is Cuixmala. A favourite memory is celebrating being pregnant and running naked along the private beach. Cuixmala is overwhelming: hectares of unspoilt land, beautiful houses and casitas, miles of beaches, and whale-watching.” www.cuixmala.com
Diane von Fürstenberg, designer – Grace Hotel, Beijing
“I love so many places in China, but Grace Hotel in the 798 Art District is one of my favourites. Beijing is such a vibrant city; this hotel is a refuge from the urban activity. It’s a stunning mix of traditional and modern, East and West. This is a line I walk with my own work, and I love to see it done so impeccably. It is a rare place that can energise and inspire, but also make you feel welcome.” www.gracebeijing.com
Manolo Blahnik, designer – San Domenico Palace, Taormina
“I spent two months in this 15th-Century former monastery recovering from a back injury. I’d sit on the terrace gazing at Mount Etna, eating pasta alla Norma, a delicious Sicilian dish with tomatoes and aubergines. This is one of the most beautiful places to relax.” www.san-domenico-palace.com
Sophie Dahl, writer – Hacienda de San Antonio, Mexico
“Alix Goldsmith’s hotel is ravishingly beautiful, with food that is simply to die for. It’s wild and lush and magical. I ride horses in the woods and drink margaritas as a mariachi band plays under the stars. I long to go back.” www.hacienda desanantonio.com
Ken Lim, founder of Kensapothecary – Dubrovnik, Croatia
“I could easily spend weeks exploring this scenic old town and its magnificent surrounding resorts. The fact that Game Of Thrones was filmed in Dubrovnik makes it so much more meaningful (if you’re a fan). The next time I’m there, the first thing I’m going to do is go on that cruise to Lokrum Island (where the show’s great trading city of Qarth was filmed).”
Yo-Yo Ma, cellist – L’Ami Louis, Paris
“The slabs of foie gras and roast chicken are sans pareil. I have wonderful memories of going there with the violinist Isaac Stern and his larger-than-life appetite. Visiting this unpretentious eatery always brings back fond memories, as well as extra pounds.” Tel: +33 148 87 77 48.
Daisy Lowe, model – Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
“My best-kept travel secret this year. It is surrounded by 150 mostly uninhabited islands in the southern atolls of the Maldives. The beaches are spectacular and the over-water villas are just magical. Try the healing rituals and treatments in the Vindhun Spa – the Sehathu Massage is a true highlight.” www.maldives.hadahaa.park.hyatt.com
Jonathan Liang, designer – Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York
“There’s this amazing brunch place I go to all the time in Bedford Ave. It’s a rustically quaint, friendly place with the best eggs Benedict. The area alone harbours some of the most secluded stores and cafés, and I really do see myself living there. I’m always longing to return to Williamsburg – to that tiny place I call home.”
Mustasha Musa, architect – The Menjangan, Bali
“Not many people know of this place as it is not your typical Bali. I love The Menjangan because of its unique appeal; you have the beautiful isolated beach, crystal clear water, the national park with wild deer roaming around, and the best part is you can go horse riding in the Menjangan forest. It’s almost like a desert-island experience!” www.themenjangan.com
Eddie Chew, restaurateur – Le Comptoir du Relais, Paris
“Yves Camdeborde’s Le Comptoir du Relais is one of the most consistently delicious bistros in Paris. To book for dinner is almost impossible and it does not take reservations for lunch. Yet it is the first place I think of when I arrive in Paris because I know I will always get a table for lunch. Just appear at the restaurant five minutes before noon and I guarantee you will get a table. Shh … If there is an impossible queue the next time I am there I will know who to blame.” www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com
Thandie Newton, actress – Can Talaias, Ibiza
“This is my favourite hotel on my favourite island. Tucked away off the beaten track, it’s a family-run oasis of casual charm, and feels like staying with old friends. The courtyard with a stunning valley view is as perfect a spot for an early-morning coffee alone as it is for a starlit dinner for 100 people. And don’t miss the parrots!” www.cantalaias.com
Bella Freud, designer – Moon Juice, California
“When I was staying in Venice Beach, I discovered a little place called Moon Juice. It sells freshly made almond milk and esoteric combinations of plant and fruit juices. Everything costs a fortune but I would willingly squander my weekly pay-packet in this white health hut.” www.moonjuiceshop.com
Ramli Ibrahim, dancer – Puri, Odisha, India
“When I think of a place to escape, a rambling colonial ‘pension’ in Puri comes to mind. I first came to Z Hotel more than 35 years ago. The area around it was a favourite haunt for hippies and unconventional tourists who wanted a different experience. It is near enough to the beachfront and there are plenty of masseurs, trinket-coral sellers mingling with devotees who make a beeline for the beach for their early morning salutation to the sun.” www.zhotelindia.com
