11 luxury escapes to exotic locations that will take your breath away

When we think of the perfect holiday, we think of luxury: effortlessly chic resorts set on powder-soft sand overlooking azure oceans, or lush jungle bursting with colourful wildlife. Maybe a wellness wonderland even comes to mind, where one day we’re playing tennis, or golf on a world-class course, and the next being massaged by expert hands. Elegant decor, fresh imaginative cuisine and seamless service are a given.

With expectations this high, luxury is something you can’t afford to get wrong. Which is why booking an escape with Kenwood Travel ensures that you will be travelling to picture-perfect destinations and staying in a sumptuous resort that is ideal for you.

Kenwood Travel is a tour operator with more than 40 years’ experience of putting together stylish, luxury holidays to the world’s most desirable locations. Its experts’ extensive knowledge gives you access to a living database of local info and global nous, all focused on a single goal: finding your dream holiday.

Need inspiration? Here’s Kenwood Travel’s pick of luxury hotels with the wow factor…

Indian Ocean: bask on the tropical island of your dreams

OZEN by Atmosphere, at Maadhoo, Maldives
Set on the beautiful island of Maadhoo in the South Male Atoll, OZEN by Atmosphere is the embodiment of a tropical island fantasy. Step off the plane and be whisked by speedboat, skimming the gin-clear waters of the Indian Ocean to this lifestyle luxury resort where its all-inclusive Indulgence plan includes gourmet dining and pampering at the spa.

Set over two tiny sandy islands linked by wooden jetties, accommodation is divided into “Wind” villas, built over the water and offering direct access to the lagoon from their private decks, and “Earth” beach-front villas with direct beach access and outdoor showers.

It’s a relaxed pace of life, stopping on the footbridge to watch baby sharks milling around in the waters beneath. Or hail a golf buggy to the Elena spa for sunrise yoga or a chakra-soothing massage in one of the peaceful, overwater treatment villas.

The resort has a Padi-certified dive school, and the waters are perfect for snorkelling, paddleboarding and catamaran sailing. If you fancy private excursions, the resort can organise them, or you may choose to join one of the many activities scheduled daily.

You’re spoilt for choice with two restaurants for lunch and four for dinner, plus a raw bar that opens at lunchtime and a poolside pizzeria. The hot ticket has to be M6m, the resort’s incredible underwater restaurant: enjoy gourmet seafood, as tropical fish and rays glide on the other side of the panoramic glass windows.

LUX* North Male Atoll, Maldives
Sleek, chic minimalism takes over from the traditional thatched-roof water villas at LUX* North Male Atoll. The 67 gleaming white villas – each with its own rooftop terrace and infinity pool – line the white sandy beach or sit on stilts over the lagoon. Inside the villas – which come with one to three bedrooms – it’s just as cool, with light airy rooms and glass walls opening up those sea views.

Gaze at the marine life beneath your feet at the overwater LUX* Me Spa, where therapists will come up with personal treatment and fitness plans. There’s a pool, rooftop yoga and tai chi classes in scenic spots, along with more dynamic activities including diving, watersports and tennis. And in an endearing touch, the hotel leaves bottles hidden around the resort, each containing a message and a prize.

There’s real creativity at work in the restaurants. Try the intriging blend of Peruvian and Japanese food at INTI, or pick and choose from the world’s cuisine at Glow Restaurant. The private dining room at Barium promises an intimate experience, where you’ll be mesmerised by a giant aquarium. Beach Rouge brings a flavour of the French Riviera to its beachfront location, and there’s also the option of a private barbecue on your own rooftop.

Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort, Mauritius
Set on Mauritius’s lush south coast in the protected Domaine de Bel Ombre region, Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort is a luxurious fusion of history, style and modern eco-sensibilities.

The plantation-style architecture marks it out as one of the few historic, colonial-style hotels on the island. Recently and sensitively refurbished by Perrot & Richard, the architects behind the Paris Ritz restoration, its bedrooms boast decorative touches by Christian Lacroix.

The resort houses an award-winning 18-hole golf course – rated best in the Indian Ocean in the World Golf Awards – as well as a newly created nine-hole course: both teeing off against a backdrop of rolling mountains and sparkling lagoons.

There is great range of other activities on offer, from tennis and football to beach pilates and mountain biking. Watersports include kitesurfing and scuba diving, and, thrillingly, the resort’s lagoon is home to a huge colony of seahorses.

Restaurants and bars range from the elegant Le Château de Bel Ombre, a 19th-century plantation house looking out over French-style gardens, to the casual Le Palmier, set between the beach and pool, and serving light Mediterranean dishes and sinful barbecues. The Gourmet Bliss dining passport gives guests the freedom to dine at more than ten restaurants and enjoy all the premium imported spirits and champagne they desire. The passport also covers unlimited green fees and even golf carts (one per room per day).

Anantara Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Sitting on Sri Lanka’s popular southwest coast between the capital Colombo and Unesco-listed Galle, the stylish Anantara Kalutara resort is based on the original design by the celebrated Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, whose iconic touch of tropical modernism permeates every nook of the resort.

Set on a peninsula at the mouth of the Kalu Ganga River, and topped and tailed by golden sands, coconut palms and glistening lagoons, the resort could almost be a luxurious island retreat.

The clever design makes the most of the long peninsula. Whether you’re enjoying sunrise salutations by the lagoon, relaxing at the pool or sampling Asian cuisine and sea breezes in the open-sided Spice Traders restaurant, all you will be aware of is peace, space and tranquil views.

Accommodation is a sleek blend of traditional craftsmanship and signature Anantara elegance and, whether villa or suite, each is spacious and brings the natural beauty in, as palms rustle and frangipani scents the air.

The double-height spa features local treatments and ingredients (think green tea scrub or a coconut compress massage), and activities range from canoeing and waterskiing to fishing and leisurely boat trips along the Kalu Ganga River.

If you love to cook up a feast, the resort’s Spice Spoons Sri Lankan cooking class could be for you. Guests visit a local market with the chef to select their ingredients, and then return to the resort to learn how to create local dishes bursting with flavour.

Middle East: enter into a glittering world

The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
Take the chance to experience the very best of Abu Dhabi’s attractions in supreme comfort – from the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi museum to the water parks and the emirate’s historic downtown.

Set on a pristine beach leading down to the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf, The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi, is the ideal destination for the discerning, well-traveled connoisseur.

The resort features 376 guestrooms, six restaurant and bars, Iridium Spa, Sandcastle Club for children, tennis and squash courts and the 3,500 sq m St Regis Athletic Club.

Everyone is catered for whatever their age – the Sandcastle Club offers supervised fun for kids, including indoor soft play and an outdoor basketball area. Golf fans will love the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, while the St Regis Athletic Club offers state of the art equipment and training, as well as an indoor lap pool (plus four outdoor pools). Enjoy a treatment in the tranquil Iridium Spa, or swim and kayak in the calm azure Gulf. Alternatively there’s nine miles of exclusive beach for running or relaxation.

The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort offers six destination restaurants and bars, including Buddha-Bar Beach Abu Dhabi, offering a day-to-night destination, the first one of its kind in the world, where maestro mixologists and Buddha-Bar DJs will provide the perfect setting to an unforgettable Abu Dhabi experience.

The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah, Ajman
In the smallest of the seven United Arab Emirates, the The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah has a knockout location. Set in 247 acres of protected mangrove forest, it’s framed by long licks of white sandy beach, and lagoons topped with lush green mangroves and teeming with flamingos.

Offsetting nature’s exuberance, the Oberoi itself features a cool Italian minimalist design but with plenty of smart features and luxurious extras, such as massive walk-in showers and giant bathtubs in each room. The resort is split-level, so offers lovely views of the beach and Gulf, especially from the Balinese beds dotted along the length of the 85-metre outdoor pool.

The Oberoi offers a number of wellness programmes: in addition to the gym and spa, featuring hammam, there are daily yoga sessions. There’s also a nearby 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course where you can perfect your swing. Other activities include kayaking and beach volleyball.

Each restaurant and bar has its own character, but the Vinesse is a showstopper: outdoor dining on what appears to be a floating glass island with uninterrupted views of the ocean. Meanwhile, down on the beach, Aquario offers freshly caught seafood curated by a fish sommelier.

Palazzo Versace Dubai
Reminiscent of a 16th-century Italian palace, Palazzo Versace Dubai is a neoclassical masterpiece with a striking entrance, high ceilings and landscaped gardens. It is located along the historic Dubai Creek just 15 minutes away from the international airport, ten minutes from Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa.

Every one of the hotel’s bedrooms, restaurants and bars feature decor and furnishings created exclusively for the hotel by Versace. With three outdoor pools offering beautiful views of Dubai Creek, and a spa with mother-of-pearl details, Palazzo Versace Dubai is a sumptuous haven for travellers seeking ultimate relaxation.

Asia: at the heart of the rainforest, nature doesn’t come much better than this

The Datai Langkawi, Malaysia
Set against a backdrop of primordial mountains and surrounded by ten-million-year-old rainforest teeming with flora and fauna, the Datai Langkawi is a very special place. You may well spot dusky langur monkeys and sunda flying lemurs darting through the trees, while majestic white-bellied sea eagles soar across the skies.

With a team of resident naturalists and marine biologists to share exactly how special the surroundings are, nature keeps on giving in this idyllic location – the hotel peeps out on to Datai Bay, rated as one of the world’s most dazzling beaches by National Geographic.

Recently reopened after a year-long refurbishment, the luxurious rooms and villas, some on stilts or with private pools, either face the rainforest or the powder-white beach of the Andaman Sea.

The four restaurants and two bars blend equally well with the natural surroundings, and you can watch great hornbills munching on the huge strangler fig trees as you enjoy your cold pressed juice and tuck into delectable pastries at breakfast. The atmospheric restaurant The Pavilion soars on stilts 30 metres into the virgin rainforest canopy, to serve seasonal Thai dishes with sensational views, while the award-winning The Gulai House charms with Malaysian cuisine in a kampung (village) house setting.

There are two outdoor pools and a wading pool for toddlers. The spa’s open-air villas specialise in traditional ramuan treatments – focusing on healing, beauty and vitality. For feet, and hands, there’s a treat to be had at Mani:Pedi:Cure by Bastien Gonzalez, a studio established by the celebrity podiatrist, where technicians trained in his techniques can give your nails a makeover.

Activities include cooking classes, arts and crafts-making at The Atelier, where local artists exhibit their works, and a visit to the resort’s permaculture garden. There’s an 18-hole golf course as well watersports such as kayaking and sailing. But best of all are the guided walks and activities in the rainforest – this is nature at its finest.

Caribbean: where luxury living is easy

Rendezvous, Saint Lucia
As an all-inclusive resort designed for couples, Rendezvous is luxury at its most relaxed, giving guests the space and freedom to explore, with a two-mile stretch of beach as well as superb dining and activities.

Set on two miles of golden-sand beach and flanked by the resort’s lush tropical gardens, Rendezvous offers a range of affordable suites for all tastes. Veranda Suites provide privacy and space with a gorgeous outdoor area, while the idyllic Beachfront Cottages boast direct beach access. Enjoy the scenery from your balcony or patio then experience indulgence at the Champagne Bar. There are alfresco casual and fine dining restaurants too – so you can dress up or down, depending on your mood.

This all-inclusive escape has plenty of luxury in store for its guests. With two pools to choose from as well as watersports and scuba diving included, water babies are well catered for during their stay. And guests seeking relaxation can indulge in the resort’s gardens or beach. Or just head to the Spa in the Water Garden for a soothing treatment, after all – you are on holiday.

Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Jamaica
Situated on a lush 110-acre tropical hillside in Montego Bay, which leads down to a private beach lapped by turquoise waters, it’s not surprising Worth magazine voted Round Hill Hotel and Villas one of the top ten classic hotels in the world.

And we haven’t even got on to the elegant villas, boutique ocean front rooms (designed by Ralph Lauren) and award-winning waterfront dining – all surrounded by immaculately maintained gardens bursting with sweet-smelling tropical foliage and colourful birds.

Health and wellness are well catered for at Round Hill, with five all-weather tennis courts (including 3 Har-Tru clay courts), a pro coaching team to help you upgrade your backhand. If golf’s your thing, the Tryall Golf Club, with its 18-hole seafront course, is close by.

Alternatively jog the trails through the grounds, past the spa – in a beautifully restored 18th-century plantation house, with a gym, outdoor yoga pavilions and infinity pool. Or take to the water for paddleboarding, waterskiing, windsurfing or fishing trips.

People travel from all over to experience award-winning executive chef Martin Maginley’s delicious dishes, featuring freshly caught seafood with a Caribbean twist and produce from the kitchen garden. This is what you imagine when you dream of a luxurious Caribbean escape.

Europe: it’s all Greek, from the glistening Aegean to the local fare

Eagles Villas, Halkidiki, Greece
Set on the westernmost finger of Halkidiki’s three-pronged peninsula, Eagles Villas offers 42 villas hugging the hillside above a private beach. Light and breezy in style, the villas have views of the Aegean Sea to go with their private plunge pools, kitchenettes and outdoor showers. Choose between villas with one to three bedrooms – some feature private gardens.

There are three pools: a large outdoor one with sweeping views of the Aegean; one just for children; and another indoors. After a workout in the gym or a game of tennis, head down to the private beach. That’s also where you’ll find the sister property, Eagles Palace, with facilities that are open to guests at the villas. Book a treatment at the Eagles Palace Spa by Elemis, or try some of the watersports on offer, including scuba diving at the Padi-certified centre.

Superior Mediterranean fare is served in refined surrounds at Lofos, or you can go Italian at Eleonas. Along with the Cabin Bar for cocktails and the poolside bar, you have the option of joining the Dine Around programme, which includes the Eagles Palace’s restaurants. There you can feast on traditional Greek mezze and grilled fish at the beachfront Armyra Restaurant, or innovative Greek cuisine at the gourmet Kamares by Spondi.