The weather is warming up and it is time to shed the clothes. Yes, summer is here. It is the perfect time to book your next trip to a luxurious getaway. There is no better season than summer to hit the open road or take that charter jet flight to a great vacation destination.
Summer travel isn’t just about jetting off to a faraway location. It is about the experience. You need a destination with a variety of activities once you arrive. Visiting the beach just doesn’t cut it anymore. You need a combination of pursuits to make the holiday truly memorable.
If you are feeling wanderlust for a luxury getaway, then have no fear, there are plenty of places to visit this summer.
Deia, Mallorca, Spain
The Spanish Island of Mallorca is a top destination for travelers looking for a resort getaway. Yes, the island is popular with budget airline travelers looking for a deal. However, just because Mallorca is a budget-friendly holiday locale doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its luxurious side. Yes, Mallorca has plenty of luxury on offer, and it oozes from the Mediterranean island’s pores if you know where to look.
If you want exquisite luxury, then book a stay at the fantastic Belmond La Residencia. The hotel is situated between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. You can’t get much further away from the crowds of tourists that flock to Mallorca in the summer.
The Belmond La Residencia is ideal for travelers looking for peace and quiet. The hotel comes complete with a restaurant and two tennis courts, giving you the chance to sweat out those late-night Calimandria cocktails. The hotel is surrounded by gorgeous lush gardens and stone paths cut through the grounds.
The village of Deia, a UNESCO World Heritage Village, is within walking distance of the Belmond La Residencia. It is a quaint village, with boutiques, restaurants, and bars. You will enjoy the full Mallorca experience wandering the streets and popping into the small shops.
You can quickly and easily reach the Cala Deia from the hotel. Cala Deia is a small cove beach located in the Tramuntana Mountains. The pebble shore is surrounded by cliffs. You will find two restaurants located near the beach, perfect for lunch or a few cold beers. You don’t have to go far to find fresh tapas. There are plenty of great options throughout the village. You can experience a tapas tour in the late afternoon. Although Cala Deia isn’t necessarily a great beach for swimming, it offers a beautiful backdrop to a day out.
If you want to explore a little further afield, then day trip to Valldemonssa. Located 20 minutes away, Valldemonssa is located on a hill and looks down at the beautiful forests below. The village is rich in history and has a car-free zone for pedestrians to stroll unhurriedly.
Travelers ready to bathe in warm weather will enjoy average temperatures of 25°C (77°F) in July. Of course, it will likely get warmer during the day, so cool off in Belmond La Residencia’s comfortable pool.
New Zealand’s Southern Alps
Not all travelers want to visit a hot weather location and spend their days at the beach. If you want to get away this summer, then consider going to the other side of the world to experience winter. Right now, the northern hemisphere is enjoying summer, but in New Zealand, it is wintertime, and perfect for skiing, snowboarding, and frolicking in the snow.
The Southern Alps are popular due to its ample number of ski resorts. Each offers visitors the chance to test out fresh powder during winter. Adrenaline junkies can go heli-skiing in the Southern Alps and race down the slopes after being dropped out of a helicopter.
The Southern Alps of New Zealand are the perfect destination for travelers seeking a little wellness retreat. The mountains run along the edge of New Zealand’s South Island. The sheer size of the mountains means there is a lot of ground to cover to explore, but you may find a few places to spend your time reflecting on life while recharging.
What better way to spend your holiday in New Zealand than to take in a wellness retreat? There are plenty of mindful escapes dotted around the country, but if you are looking for one in the shadows of the Southern Alps, then look no further than Aro Ha.
If you are the type of entrepreneur, business executive, or high-net-worth individual that cannot put down their phone, then this is the place for you. Aro Ha’s focus is to free guests from the shackles of technology. The expert guides want to lead you on a mission of rejuvenation sans tech.
A stay at the Aro Ha retreat is a time of inner awaking. You will cleanse your mind, body, and spirit to recapture the essence of yourself. No work to distract you and no phone to occupy your time. Days begin with sunrise yoga sessions, and hikes along the Southern Alps will take guests into nature to appreciate the surrounding world.
Guests enjoy massages, saunas, and mindfulness practices throughout the day. The retreat is beautiful and reminds visitors that life is also gorgeous. A visit to Aro Ha and New Zealand’s Southern Alps isn’t your typical luxury adventure. It is an experience and one that will last a lifetime.
Monterey County, California
Want an escape to America’s West Coast? As they say, the West Coast is the best coast. If you fancy a summer luxury experience in the Golden State, then head to Monterey to stay in one of its refined resorts.
One of the main attractions around Monterrey is golf and the area’s resorts offer some of the best courses in California. The cream of the crop is Pebble Beach Golf Links. Only serious golfers need apply to play this one-of-a-kind course.
Visitors can also play the Links at Spanish Bay or Spyglass Hill Golf Course. The options are plentiful and any golfer worth their nine iron will want to walk the fairways of these incredible courses. You will think you died and went to heaven.
Monterey’s coastal location allows travelers to hire yachts to sail around the California coast. You can spend a day or two aboard your own boat, casting a fishing line into the Pacific Ocean and enjoying big-game fishing.
The Monterey County is also ideal for wine lovers. If you love your American red wines, then explore the Bargetto Winery, Comanche Cellars, or Ventana Vineyards.
Monterey is home to several great California beaches. Explore the boardwalk of Del Monte Beach or wade through the surf at San Carlos. There are some amazing spots to enjoy the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean on a hot summer day. Nature lovers will love exploring the waterfront around Monterey where they can see otters and sea lions sunning themselves. It is a great spot to snap some pics for your social media.
Fort William, Highlands, Scotland
If you want to be treated like royalty this summer, then why not vacation at a castle? The Inverlochy Castle Hotel is located in the Highlands of Scotland, smack dab in the center of some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth.
Inverlochy Castle Hotel is located at the feet of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s largest mountain. The area is ideal for anyone seeking privacy and to escape the daily grind back home. Oftentimes, you won’t hear a sound in the Highlands except your feet walking along paths and birds singing. It is a peaceful and romantic location for couples looking to reignite a spark or keep one burning.
Although you will stay in a 19th-century Scottish castle, you will have modern-day luxury amenities, including waterfall showers, flatscreen televisions, and comfortable beds with opulent sheets. Not far from the hotel is the Ben Nevis Whiskey Distillery. The distillery is open year-round and offers tours to whiskey-loving visitors.
The Ben Nevis Whiskey Distillery is one of the oldest active distilleries in Scotland. It opened in 1825 and continues to brew high-quality whiskeys today. The distillery uses water sourced from the mountain to make its tasty malts. You can sample the different malt whiskeys on the tour and buy some bottles to take home.
Fort William is for travelers wanting a slice of outdoor life. Scotland enjoys some world-class golf courses, and Fort William is home to a gorgeous 18-hole course at the foot of the mountains. The Fort William Golf Club course was built in 1974, with Ben Nevis in the background. Travelers can use Fort William as their base during July’s British Open golf tournament, which will take place on Merseyside in England in 2023.
You can book fishing trips on one of the beautiful lochs around Fort William and spend a day aboard a row boat casting into the depths below. Fishing tours offer fly fishing adventures throughout the summer months.
Fancy hitting the loch but don’t want to go fishing? Well, hop aboard a yacht to explore the waters. Travelers seeking a more intense experience can enjoy a whitewater rafting trip or mountain biking. Fort William is the ideal vacation destination for travelers seeking a luxury outdoor experience in the Highlands.
Journalist and author. Contributor
