Learn to Sail in the Sun
Cowes Week is once again upon us, but if the idea of setting sail in the Solent isn't quite up your street, then Turkey's Hillside Beach Club has introduced a plethora of sailing activities this summer to help you get your sea legs.
The resort (pictured above left), situated in Fethiye on the Aegean coast, is set in its own private bay, surrounded by pine trees and overlooking crystal clear turquoise water. Guests can choose from three sailing options: Monohull, Trimaran and Catamaran. For more ambitious and experienced sailors, the resort offers bareboat training on a Hanse 415 sailing boat. Sailing lessons are led by professional instructors and generally consist of a one-hour theory lesson, followed by four hours of practical teaching. Prices start from £125. For the explorers, full and half day catamaran tours are available to guests who want to discover the nearby islands.
For those guests keener on getting under the water than gliding on the water, divers of all levels can acquire SSI, PADI and CMAS certificates at Hillside Beach Club’s Diving Centre, and sailing training programmes certified by the World Water Sports School International.
The luxury resort cocoons visitors in contemporary comfort, with rooms staggered up verdant mountainous slopes and set the around the picturesque cove. Surrounded by woodland, the setting ensures a peaceful stay in keeping with the natural and unspoiled surroundings. After a day of sailing, guests can relax and unwind in one of two spas. The Balinese-inspired SANDA Nature Spa offers sensual massages and relaxing treatments, whilst the SANDA Spa has traditional Turkish baths, massage rooms, sauna and Jacuzzi.
A seven-night full board stay at Hillside Beach Club, including flights from London Gatwick and private transfers, is from £1,062 per person based on two adults sharing a twin/double room in October. To book call Classic Collection on 0800 008 7299 or visit www.classic-collection.co.uk
Wine-Lovers Indulge in the Douro Valley's New Six Senses
Top of the list for new resorts to visit is the recently opened Six Senses Douro Valley (pictured above right), Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas first location in Europe. Set in the beautiful Portuguese UNESCO World Heritage area of the Douro Valley, the property is touched with the romance of 19th century architecture wedded to contemporary interiors reflecting the inimitable Six Senses style.
With 57 guest rooms and suites, the whole resort is bathed in a décor of light greys and sandy tones; New York based Clodagh Design has created glamorous rooms with eco-friendly materials blending nature, Portuguese tradition and the elements of water, nature, space, stone and wood. A star culinary team, headed up by Che Paulo Matos, offers guests dishes and sharing plates created using traditional open fire ovens and clay pots. Both the all-day dining restaurant and specialty restaurant draw upon the abundant fresh produce of the verdant valley and surrounding countryside, as well as from the resort’s own gardens.
Of course, no trip would be complete without a visit to some of the region's local vineyards. An interactive and instructional programme presents leading vintages from the area where guests are guided in the varieties and styles by leading Portuguese winemakers from the surrounding valley and the resort’s Wine Directors. Top wine magazine and website, Wine Spectator, ranked three wines from Douro in its top five, and with over 80 grape varieties in Douro guests can participate in every stage of the wine making process from planting to stomping and eventually blending their own wine.
For those wanting to fully relax and unwind, the expansive Six Senses Spa measures over 2,200 square metres (24,000 square feet) and comprises 10 treatments and heated in-door swimming pool with water jets, steam room, Sauna and Lanconium. The spa menu includes locally-inspired wine based treatments which use grape based products from the Douro region. There is also a Visiting Practitioner programme which features over 100 of the world’s best wellness healers, practitioners and experts. The group’s popular Yogic Detox and Yogic Sleep Programs are also offered appealing to different levels of yoga practitioners.
For more information or to book, visit www.sixsenses.com
