As I’ve talked about before, I like to undertake a lot of research on countries I’d like to visit, have visited, places I would like to see and often take note of a hotel or resort that catches my eye for a future trip. I’d looked at a few island locations in the Seychelles, and have been before to the main islands of Mahé and Praslin, but also wanted to try something different.

For this trip, our first long-haul since Covid, we picked the Seychelles both because they allowed international visitors without too restrictive travelling/entry restrictions and by being able to fly direct from London with British Airways meant we could take advantage of the Seychelles being one of the UK approved quarantine-free travel corridors

Our stay, booked through Leading Hotels of the World, was quite a last minute booking having had to cancel Le Sirenuse in Positano (Amalfi Coast, Italy) due to changes in Italian legislation regarding Covid-testing for UK arrivals. I had accumulated a number of points through the Leaders Club membership, so paid cash for the first night then booked a couple of extra nights using points.

I’ve loved this hotel ever since it opened, it was a game-changer in terms of the standard of hotels at Heathrow, not least because of the direct connection to the Terminal 5 building. I love everything about airports and travel, so being able to stay so close in such nice surroundings and, with the runway views if you’re lucky enough to be located in the outward facing parts of the hotel, this makes for a fantastic stay.

We had such a wonderful hotel experience here - as well as this summarised review I also plan to post another blog detailing and contrasting with our stay at the other LHW property we visited on the same trip, the equally impressive Hotel Villa Dubrovnik.

After researching which countries were accessible and not requiring a quarantine on the return to the UK, we opted for our first post-lockdown trip to be Croatia (you can check out the full itinerary here). I very quickly opted for a two-centre trip, flying to Dubrovnik with British Airways first then travelling onto Hvar by ferry.

Quite a different accommodation choice for ThePrivateTraveller - this was actually chosen by “Mrs” ThePrivateTraveller as a Christmas present; but as soon as I found out about it I loved the idea; and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Having not long been in Madrid for a long weekend, staying at the Gran Hotel Inglés (which was fantastic too), I wanted to try somewhere different to write up another hotel review on my website.⁣ In the heart of Madrid behind its Elizabethan-style façade, the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques boasts a modern design and facilities with grand architectural splendour.

When staying at the Constance Hotels property (Lemuria in the Seychelles) and I spotted Constance Tsarabanjina in Madagascar, I knew that we had to visit this country. To be honest I didn’t know that much about Madagascar (not having seen the cartoon films, not that they are necessarily representative as you might imagine of what Madagascar is like). You can find my full Madagascar itinerary here and also the reviews of both Mandrare and Tsarabanjina.

Our first trip to Madagascar was just incredible. Madagascar Classic Collection has two properties (same amazing standard of accommodation, service and facilities but very different locations); the Mandrare River Camp and also the Manafiafy Beach and Rainforest Lodge.

Walking round Bruges that time we spotted the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce right on the canal, after we remembered this was used in the Colin Farrell dark comedy film from 2008, In Bruges. We said that whenever we came back to Bruges, ideally visiting in winter for a change from summer, we would stay at this boutique hotel.

Tresanton is a small, ultra luxe boutique hotel in a cluster of traditional Cornish houses overlooking the sea. You will get a flavour from the hotel website but this is so elegantly designed and presented, with excellent unassuming service.

Located in the heart of Argentina’s premier wine growing region, just south of Mendoza, The Vines Resort & Spa is surrounded by 1,500 acres of private vineyard estates. I was first attracted to it through its membership of Leading Hotels of the World, and it did not disappoint. It’s in a great location, fairly easily accessible and has just the best views towards the Andes mountains.

Having stayed in the city on our last trip, this time we were looking for an alternative. I initially, as I invariably do, check out which Leading Hotels of the World properties there are in any location, soon spotting this Kempinski property located on an island just minutes away from Piazza San Marco by complimentary boat.

The location here is just exceptional - we got a direct water taxi from the airport right to the hotel doorstep (this transfer option isn’t cheap, but it’s an amazing way to arrive into Venice). The Baglioni Hotel Luna is apparently the oldest hotel in Venice, being housed in a 12th-Century Palazzo.

Mashpi Lodge first came onto my radar by watching the BBC TV programme, Amazing Hotels - Life Beyond the Lobby. As soon as I saw it, I knew instantly I had to visit. It’s taken some time to get this organised (Mashpi was featured in episode 2 of season 1 - first aired April 2017) but now we’ve been it did not disappoint at all.

The main purpose of this trip was really to stay (again) in the incredible Belgian city of Bruges, but with British Airways changing connecting flight times a few months before our visit we decided to travel the night before to Brussels and stay over before travelling onto Bruges the following day.

I was looking for an island experience after having done cities in Japan and the Train Suite Shiki-Shima - I always initially look at LHW (Leading Hotels of the World) but thereafter I look at SLH (Small Luxury Hotels). I soon spotted this resort and liked the look of it.

Having booked to go to Palm Springs in February for Modernism Week, we were looking for somewhere to visit around California/Nevada before flying home from LAX airport in Los Angeles.

We flew to London the night before and stayed over at the Hotel Sofitel London Heathrow - this is in such a great location and connected directly to the terminal.