The Cheapest Destinations (and Months) for a Summer Trip to Europe

School’s (almost) out for summer—which means it’s time to start planning a getaway. If Europe is on your agenda, Geotrips has you covered with lots of ways to save money as you plan. But the very first step is knowing how to be in the right place at the right time.

Stockholm

Cheapest month to go: July
Best for: Solo travelers]

This city has such a vibrant café culture, you’ll feel like a local just by settling in with a journal, coffee, and a kardemmumabuller (translation: a supremely delicious, only-in-Sweden variety of the cinnamon bun made with plenty of cardamom instead.) Going in July means a 16 percent saving over trips in June, when summer prices are at their peak—and it also means long days of Scandinavian sun. While you’re there, be sure to hit the coast for fresh-from-the-fishermen shellfish, usually piled high on rye toast.

Positano

Best month to go: June
Best for: Couples

You can break the bank staying at a hotel like Le Sirenuse a global standard setter for service and style. But you can make up some of the difference by traveling in June rather than July, when prices max out in this seaside stunner of a destination.

Prague

Cheapest month to go: July
Best for: Groups

July brings tons of cultural events to Prague—everything from the supersized Bohemia Jazz Fest to a staging of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in the same theater where it first premiered in 1787. Stay in the beautiful new Boho Hotel, which just opened in December with minimalist, grey-on-white interiors in the historic city center.

Madrid

Cheapest month to go: August
Best for: Groups

Going in August means you’ll encounter pretty hot temperatures and some store closures in Madrid—but you’ll also save 21 percent over a trip in June. The good news is that if you’re smart about planning, neither of those two caveats will get in your way. For one thing, museums like the Prado are still open—and have far fewer crowds (along with plenty of air conditioning). And there’s always plenty of gazpacho and sangria to keep you cool, nearly anywhere you look.

Krakôw

Cheapest month to go: July
Best for: Solo travelers

After many years of flying under the radar, Poland’s second city is taking a turn in the spotlight—it’s even ranked in the top 10 T+L’s World’s Best Cities. Credit the renaissance to a young generation of creative thinkers, ready to infuse the city’s medieval buildings with a vibrant new energy. (The city’s stunning architecture largely survived WWII due to a series of failed air raids.) Rub elbows with the city’s emerging tech crowd at places like Pauza, a locally beloved bar on the second floor of a former tenement house.

Berlin

Cheapest month to go: August
Best for: Groups

Nobody seems to understand why Berlin is so affordable in August; unlike other capitals that shut down for the month, Berlin is at its most alive this month. Get tickets to the International Beer Festival or Dance in August—both events that draw continental crowds—and book yourself in to Das Stue, our favorite design-driven property in town, for a true bucket list trip.

Edinburgh

Cheapest month to go: June
Best for: Groups

August is Festival month in Edinburgh, when the city’s calendar of events is as packed as its hotel rooms. Going in June will save you a whopping 29 percent, and there’s still tons to do. After you’ve made your way through the city’s main sights, head straight to picture-perfect Victoria Street, a curved, cobblestone street right off the George IV Bridge, where you’ll find Cuttea Sark, the city’s best place to buy tea. (Get the Blue Lady black tea with grapefruit essence. It’s a perfect souvenir.)

Dubrovnik

Cheapest month to go: June
Best for: Families

While Europe’s who’s who spend their summers yachting up the Dalmatian Coast, you can live the fabulous life in this stunningly preserved seaside city. Stay in the 19-room Pučić Palace, take a dip in one of the city’s pristine beaches, and walk the walls of the medieval fortress at sunset. Need a clue on why those historic ramifications look so familiar? Dubrovnik’s Old Town makes many a cameo in Game of Thrones.

Bruges, Belgium

Cheapest month to go: July
Best for: Couples

You’ll feel like you’ve walked into a fairy tale when you see the 13^th-century architecture that makes Bruges one of the most charming places on earth. For a breath of modernity in a city that’s all about the beautifully aged, stay at The Van Cleef. Once home to the legendary Van Cleef family, the 700-year-old estate has been updated as a boutique hotel where the whimsical design can only be characterized as a riotous, perfectly layered mash-up of patterns and colors.

Barcelona

Cheapest month to go: August
Best for: Families

Barcelona offers great value all summer—and despite the fact that August offers the best prices, traveling in June or July will only cost you three percent more. Roam L’Eixample, with its fabulously over-the-top Gaudi buildings, and pop into La Boqueria market for a feast that’ll only cost a few bucks. Then collapse into bed at Casa Bonay, undoubtedly the most stylish new hotel in town.

Amsterdam

Cheapest month to go: July
Best for: Groups

Strolling the canals is perfect for a romantic couples’ retreat, but Amsterdam has tons to offer for groups. Check out world-class museums like the Rijksmuseum (complete with a hot new restaurant), stay at ultra-hip hotels like the Hoxton, and hit the Nine Streets district for amazing shopping. The more hands you’ve got, the more bags you can hold.

Dublin

Cheapest month to go: August
Best for: Families

The Guinness capital of the world, for families? Believe it. Dublin has Europe’s largest enclosed urban park just west of its downtown core - the 1,700-acre Phoenix Park includes gardens, tree-lined boulevards, a zoo, and a tea parlor. (The city also has a great children’s museum and aquarium.) Be sure to tack on a stay at Ashford Castle, where everyone (adults included!) can feel pampered as royalty.

Lisbon 

Cheapest month to go: August
Best for: Couples

It’s always been a strong candidate where affordable European destinations are concerned, but Lisbon isn’t just attractive for its value. It’s also an emerging design mecca, with tons of artisans putting a modern spin on traditional wares (we’re talking hats, shoes, jewelry—the fun stuff). Be advised that June is the most expensive summer month to travel, when a trip costs 14 percent more than it does in August.

source: travelandleisure.com

World most extravagant private island resorts

World most extravagant private island resorts

Privacy and exclusivity often rank high on a luxury traveller’s list of priorities. For those looking for something truly indulgent, discrete and filled with luxury, we have compiled a list of the most extravagant private island resorts in the world. These islands offer the ultimate in privacy and exclusivity. this list is so exclusive that Richard Branson’s fabled Necker Island barely managed to crack the top five.

1. North Island Seychelles

Making headlines in 2011 as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal honeymoon destination, North Island has developed a reputation as the most luxurious in the Indian Ocean with a price tag to match.

Renting out the entire island grants you exclusive access to 11 villas, all boasting giant terraces with panoramic ocean views, a private butler and island buggy, with the piece de resistance being Villa 11, the 8,000 square foot, and completely isolated villa with an oversized bath made for two and the best views on the island, pure extravagance. Powdery, white-sand beaches line the east and west side of the island while a library, spa, gym, helipad and activity centre are all at your disposal. The island has a no menu policy; instead the chef meets with guest and creates meals based on their tastes and preferences. North Island offers high-end extravagance in a uniquely desert island environment – a true definition of barefoot luxury.

2. Motu Tane, French Polynesia

If a luxury resort in Bora Bora doesn’t quite meet your standards of exclusivity, a 10-minute boat ride from the main island, across the most beautiful lagoon in French Polynesia, brings you to the private island resort of Motu Tane.

The tiny three-acre island is covered mostly in tropical forest and surrounded completely by pristine white-sand beaches. Motu Tane is exclusively rented out to one group at a time which allows for accommodations of up to 26 people in a mix of impeccably designed thatched roofed master and guest suites. Island rental includes exclusive use of the hotel’s 36ft boat for exploring local islands, snorkelling the crystal clear waters and scuba diving through the pristine reefs of Bora Bora. Preparing all meals is your own private chef ready to arrange beach barbecues, torch-lit dinners and Tahitian feasts at your request.

3. Turtle Island, Fiji

500-acres and 14 beaches make up Turtle Island just 30 minutes by floatplane from the main island of Fiji. Each of Turtle Island’s 14 cottages or ‘bures’ including the Brooke bure (named after former guest Brooke Shields) is managed by a bure Mama who acts as a personal assistant and caretaker for guests.

The luxury cottages overlook the tranquil waters of the island’s blue lagoon, a perfect natural cove for swimming. The resort provides guests with horses and mountain bikes to explore the vast landscape and diverse flora and fauna found on the island. Private meals on secluded beaches or family style dinners with your entire group are just some of your dining options, while a mountaintop dinner overlooking the entire island at sunset will have you feeling like the king/queen of your very own island nation.

4. Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

One of the largest of the British Virgin Islands, Necker Island is only available for hire during specially selected weeks of the year. The island’s 74 acres of pure white sand is topped by a tropical forest of emerald green palms. Renting out the entire island ensures access to Temple House, Sir Branson’s very own private home where you can drift in the huge freshwater infinity pool and enjoy the gorgeous sea view from your free-standing marble bath.

The island even has its own 3-person submarine which you can take for a spin in the impossibly clear Caribbean waters. Michelin-trained chefs are at your beck and call, ready to provide gourmet dinners or champagne breakfasts anywhere, anytime.

5. Tagomago Island, Spain

Private islands are a rarity in the Mediterranean, but truly unique is a private island offering unparalleled peace and privacy just ten minutes from Ibiza. Tagomago Island, measuring just 1.5km by 0.87km and surrounded by breathtakingly turquoise waters is highlighted by a single, contemporary and spacious villa equipped to house no more than ten guests.

The island is covered by an unspoiled nature and bird reserve with a landscape of rocky cliffs and wild pine trees. A pathway to the west side of the small island leads to a completely isolated beach perfect for swimming, snorkelling and all forms of water activities. The island’s private helipad and port make getting on and off the island uncomplicated. Spend nights taking in the legendary night life of Ibiza all the while knowing that your own private sanctuary is just a 10 minute boat ride away.

6. Musha Cay, The Bahamas

Owned by world-renowned illusionist David Copperfield, Musha Cay is one of eleven islands located on the aptly titled Copperfield Bay. A 45-minute chartered flight from Nassau brings you directly to this secluded area of the Caribbean and onto the island’s own private runway. The island’s five guest houses accommodate up to 24 guests.

Perched atop the island’s highest point is the 10,000-square foot Highview guest house which features panoramic views of Musha Cay and the surrounding uninhabited islands that dot the impossibly blue waters of Copperfield Bay. You can’t miss the prepared picnic lunch on the picturesque sandbar. Located minutes from the island, the thin strip of white sand appears only at low tide. At night, the outdoor theatre billed as ‘Dave’s Drive-in’ allows guests to enjoy films right on the beach, underneath the stars.

7. Coco Prive Kuda Hithi Island, Maldives

Coco Prive is an intimate 13,000-square foot island offering complete privacy amongst tropical flora, soaring palms, white sand beach and turquoise waters. 10-minutes by seaplane from Malé International Airport in the Maldives, the island’s master residence and five guest residences can accommodate up to 12 guests. The two-level master residence houses a spacious open bedroom, a large master bath and an even larger open deck with Jacuzzi overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The island’s infinity pool runs the whole length of the beach and a separate pool area is partially covered by an overhead hanging garden which is highlighted by a roaring fire in the centre. Dining options are limitless with a chef and staff ready to prepare any dish at the guest’s request. The on-site sommelier will ensure the perfect wine pairings to accompany your meals. If eating on the island gets tiresome, a boat can take you to the nearby Coco Bodu Hithi for dining at one of their five fine dining restaurants – all included in the rental price.

8. Orpheus Island, Australia

The secluded Orpheus Island on the waters of the Great Barrier Reef is home to a protected national park and surrounded by a World Heritage listed Marine Park. Renting out the resort ensures exclusive access to the island’s protected land which is covered in dense forests and wildlife including echidnas, bandicoots, green tree frogs, ospreys and sea eagles. More importantly, you will have untouched sections of the Great Barrier Reef to discover right outside your lodge.

Guided scuba and snorkelling expedition to the waters and coral reefs surrounding Orpheus Island will be arranged in the resort’s custom-built dive boat. All rooms, suites and villas face the beach of the serene Hazard Bay on the western-side of the island with accommodations for up to 42 guests. The executive chef prepares a fresh daily menu of contemporary, locally-sourced, and freshly caught and grown seasonal fare paired with regional wines and beers. Choose to dine in the luxurious open-air restaurant, on the island’s private jetty under the stars or sail off to a secluded bay. 

9. The Rania Experience, Maldives

A walk around this tiny island paradise will last less than eight minutes but with its location in the centre lagoon of the Faafu Atoll, the calm and tranquil waters will truly make you feel as if time has stood still. A 30-minute floatplane from Malé International Airport in the Maldives brings you to the tiny private island meant for single groups of no more than 12 guests.

Upon arrival you will be welcomed with unlimited a-la-carte dining and spa treatments wherever and whenever you want. Activities include fishing with a Maldivian crew and diving with a PADI qualified Dive Master. Island rental comes with exclusive use of an 86ft yacht containing a large lounge, an outdoor whirlpool and dining areas in the cabin and on the deck. The cruiser’s three spacious bedrooms allow guests to take overnight excursions to explore the neighbouring islands. 

10. Amanwana, Indonesia

Amanwana is the only resort on the protected nature and marine reserve of Moyo Island. Located just east of Bali, the 350-square kilometre island is surrounded by turquoise waters and untouched reefs making it the ideal location for diving and snorkelling with the resort’s PADI certified Dive Master. Renting out the entire resort allows exclusive access to the protected park where vegetation ranges from savannah to tropical jungle and waterfalls. Fresh water pools make way for wild boar, macaque monkeys, sea eagles, osprey and the indigenous Rusa Deer.

Only 20 luxury tents make up Amanwana with a choice between beach-front ocean tents (literally steps from the ocean), or secluded jungle tents hidden deep within the jungle canopy. With 58-square metres of floor space, wooden walls incorporating large picture windows, a king-size bed and air-conditioning, your tent will offer all the luxury comforts that you would not expect in such a remote wilderness setting. Excursions to visit other islands in the Indonesian archipelago on the custom built Amanikan 32-metre luxury cruiser can be arranged to locations such as Komodo Island where you can witness the Komodo dragon in their natural habitat.
Geotrips Prime travel agency of the UK
http://www.geotrips.co.uk/

Source: aluxurytravelblog.com