Having skied from the age of 5 (including a couple of seasons in the late 90s when working for a living temporarily lost its appeal) I’m always amazed that I find choosing a ski resort and chalet so difficult! I blame the Internet (perhaps slightly ironic for a blogger).
The trouble is, there’s so much choice!
But I think I’ve found the answer. I recently returned from a trip to St Michael, in Austria’s southern region of Lungau – slightly off the tourist route but still only an hour’s transfer from Salzburg. It was, quite simply, exceptional.
There are several reasons why.
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Finding a great getaway, something to suit a whole family or a group of friends, can be a tricky challenge but Bluestone, nestled in the middle of Pembrokeshire National Park aspires to be just that - the perfect short break for everyone.
What is Bluestone?
Bluestone is a modern and yet very natural take on the holiday village concept of old. Built in two isolated valleys, surrounding a picturesque lake, are around 180 individual self-catering timber lodges.
With a very ethical feel to it - all the meat is locally produced, they burn locally produced wood to heat the pool and the energy efficient lighting is supplemented by solar panels on all the south facing roofs - Bluestone really is the modern and natural choice for a family getaway or a romantic weekend break in the heart of the Welsh countryside.
A relaxing, romantic weekend for couples…
What we were looking for last weekend was a relaxing, romantic break as a couple. So, with all it’s family fun, does Bluestone work as a romantic getaway?
Yes it does - amazingly well.
After we arrived on Friday afternoon, and after a little trip to check out the Blue Lagoon we retired to our lodge for a bath a bottle of fiz and a quiet night to ourselves… on Saturday morning we woke to a day of relaxation and indulgence.
In the village, in the middle of the park is The Well; the health spa. Like all of Bluestone this is brand spanking new - having opened in July ‘08 or thereabouts. A tour of the facilities with one of the therapists took in the hot spa pool in a little courtyard in the centre, two steam rooms, two saunas, and ice room, salt room and a tea room come restaurant to keep you going for your stay.
For the ladies there’s a great range of all the usual treatments - the brochure for the spa’s right here - and there’s a good choice of treatments for the chaps too.
I went for an Aromatherapy Sports & Fitness Massage - £60 for 1hr 10mins - which was just what I needed. Starting from the feet and working up to shoulders which, I’m sure like many men, don’t enjoy being hunched at a desk all day the treatment left feeling genuinely revived.
Emily - feeling equally relaxed after her girlie version of much the same massage, an Espa Aromatherapy Massage Destresser - and I retired to the hot spa to wile away the rest of the morning dipping in and out of the steam rooms, saunas, monsoon showers and pool.
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Ayrshire is famous for its beauty, golf and now it’s new Turnberry resort which has just seen £30 m pumped into a dramatic refurb. The resort is set to open on 1st July in advance of the 2009 Open Championship (16-19 July) which sees this premier golfing event returning to the Ailsa Course for the fourth time in the resort’s 103 year history.
The positioning of the 5 star resort couldn’t be better, it occupies a hilltop position overlooking the pretty Ayrshire coastline. Guests can now enjoy sophisticated accommodation, world class golf, revitalising spa treatments and outdoor pursuits in a unique 800 acre estate.
There will be 113 bedrooms as well as more accommodation in the lodges with the total number of rooms being 210. There will be 25 different spa treatments available including aromatherapy, reflexology, enveloping wraps and hydrotherapy. It also has all the normal trimmings such as a 20 metre pool, Jacuzzi, fitness studio and heat experiences.
As you may have read on our previous posts, we get to go and review all manner of luxury properties and hotels and the buck certainly doesn’t stop at English Stately Homes. We were recently invited along to Bradley House in the heart of Wiltshire, The Duke of Somerset’s second residence and a right royal treat. Having always dreamt of being a Duke (just for a day) I jumped at the chance to ‘live the dream’ and stay in this imposing 14 bedroom residence – the only question was going to be in which room do I sleep!
A couple of hours drive South on the M3 from London and you’re in the middle of nowhere… well a little village called Maiden Bradley actually, blink and you may miss it! Bradley House is set within 5,000 acres of countryside and has remained there for over 300 years. Owned by the second oldest line of Dukes in Britain you really can expect to experience a slice of English history and culture at its finest.
Driving through the gates you are immediately hit by the enormity of the property. The imposing architecture that’s been enjoyed by generation after generation of royal blood dating all the way back to King Henry the 8th. We parked up by the front door and immediately had an appreciation of the tranquillity and enormity of the place. The front doors open directly into the main entrance hall and you are immediately aware of being watched by the generations of Dukes given immortality by their fine artists. Priceless swords, paintings and tapestries adorn the place and straight away I began to realise what it must be like being an English Duke. I love it already!
King Henry The Eighth’s Bed.
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If you know your wines you’ll be well aware that France’s Bordeaux region produces some of the finest. Bernard Magrez, owner of 35 vineyards world-wide and classed as one of France’s best known wine producers, has recently developed the unique concept of “Luxury wine tourism”.
From February 2009 Mr. Magrez is opening the doors to some of his most remarkable chateaux in Bordeaux for visitors who enjoy the finer things in life including history, culture, luxury surrounds and of course… fine wine.
You’ll be able to take yourself back to the thirteenth century and explore the religious history, artwork and artefacts at Chateau Pape-Clement, once owned by Pope Clement V, and then before wine-tasting and dining out, visit the Art Nouveau pavilion designed by Gustave Eiffel.
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