Assured Hotels
According to The Telegraph, the newest and most exclusive of Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts’ Malé atoll offering, VARU by Atmosphere, is “smart yet down to earth and social in equal measures – with everything you want a flick of a beach towel away”.
Villas – set either beachfront or overwater - have the option of their own 10m² private plunge pool. All have the same understated yet contemporary character, with earthy tones, splashes of Maldivian print, vaulted ceilings and huge floor-to-ceiling glass doors that bathe the rooms in natural light and give sensational ocean views.
Families have dedicated two-bedroomed beach villas which can accommodate up to four children. For a relatively intimate resort, there’s a lot going on with five restaurants (including KAAGÉ, a Maldivian fine-dining restaurant), dive centre, kids' club and the Elena Spa offering treatments in their overwater suites. There’s a vast range of activities to entertain; learn palm leaf origami or the art of local drumming, whilst non-motorised watersports are included.
An Antarctic expedition cruise is designed to take you beyond simply seeing the continent from a ship. Small inflatable Zodiac boats are used to explore bays, reach remote landing sites and get closer to the ice, wildlife and landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Most journeys are designed to get you somewhere as quickly as possible. The Blue Train does the opposite. Over three days and two nights, it travels roughly 1,600 kilometres between Pretoria and Cape Town, turning the distance between the two cities into an experience in its own right.
Europe is packed with iconic destinations, but some of its most rewarding holidays begin just beyond the well-trodden tourist trail. If you've already ticked off the big-name cities or simply fancy somewhere that feels a little different, there are plenty of places offering beautiful scenery, fascinating history, and memorable food without the queues. From medieval towns on the Adriatic coast to volcanic islands in the Atlantic, these lesser-known corners of Europe prove that sometimes the best trips are the ones you weren't expecting.
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